UNICEF ZAMBIA Highlights Hand Hygiene Challenges, Infrastructure Gaps As WORLD BANK Pledges Support For Zambia’s National Hand Hygiene Roadmap
Ms Rand expressed gratitude to the Zambian government for its leadership in the initiative and acknowledged the support from international partners, including the European Union and Germany.
She also recognised the contributions of other stakeholders and individuals who provided practical tools such as scanners instead of printed materials, enabling broader participation in the campaign.
Ms Rand outlined two major challenges identified through recent investigations: the lack of adequate infrastructure and the difficulty of achieving behavioural change.
She emphasised that water is a basic human right, yet in some areas, the actual cost of producing water stands at K18, while residents only pay K8.
Ms Rand said the discrepancy results in financial losses and strains service delivery.
Ms Rand noted that UNICEF and its partners are currently working across 90 districts to improve access to water and sanitation services.
She encouraged all to reflect personally on their hygiene habits, particularly handwashing, and urged collective commitment to real progress in the coming year.
This came to light during the Global Hand Washing Day and launch of Hand Hygiene Roadmap in Lusaka.
The 2025 Global Hand Washing Day was held under the theme 'Be a hand washing hero'.
Meanwhile, World Bank has congratulated the Government of Zambia on the launch of the Hand Hygiene Roadmap, describing it as a major step forward in protecting public health.
Country Manager Wedex Ilunga said the World Bank, as the lead partner in Zambia’s water and sanitation sector, is proud to join hands with the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation in commemorating Global Handwashing Day under the theme Be a Handwashing Hero.
Mr Ilunga noted that the roadmap reflects a national commitment to lasting behaviour change and infrastructure anchored in good hygiene practices.
He described handwashing as a simple yet powerful tool in disease prevention, adding that this is not just a campaign but a movement that demands collective action, innovation, and sustained commitment from all sectors of society.
While celebrating the progress made so far, Mr Ilunga acknowledged the challenges that remain.
He cited data from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, which shows that in 2024 only 18 percent of Zambia’s population had access to basic handwashing facilities at home.
Mr Ilunga stressed that this means over 80 percent of Zambians still lack access to basic hygiene, underscoring the urgency of achieving Sustainable Development Goal Number 6 universal and equitable access to adequate sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030.
Samuel Mbewe
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