The Pan-African Industrial Cleaning Academy (PAICA) has called for the inclusion of professionally trained cleaners and hygiene practitioners in Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness and response strategies to strengthen infection prevention and control.

The founder and registrar of the academy, Ambassador Olubunmi Dayo Fagburiyo, made the call on Thursday at a stakeholders’ engagement on Ebola preparedness and response, where he highlighted the role of professional cleaning in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Fagburiyo said cleaning was more than the use of mops, buckets and detergents, stressing that specialised training was necessary to ensure effective disinfection, prevent cross-contamination and protect public health.

He warned that untrained cleaners could inadvertently spread infections by using the same cleaning equipment in toilets, kitchens and living areas without observing appropriate hygiene protocols.

According to him, professionally trained cleaners understand the proper use of disinfectants, chemical dilution ratios, contact time and personal protective equipment required to safely clean and decontaminate potentially infectious environments.

He described cleaners as critical but often overlooked frontline workers during disease outbreaks, urging government agencies, healthcare institutions and international partners to integrate them into emergency preparedness and response plans.

Fagburiyo identified inadequate training, poor professional recognition and weak coordination among stakeholders as major gaps that could undermine Nigeria’s preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks.

He also advocated improved remuneration and certification for cleaning practitioners, noting that professionalising the sector would strengthen hygiene standards while creating sustainable employment opportunities.

The PAICA founder said the academy was ready to deploy rapid-response training teams across Abuja to train personnel in hospitals, isolation centres, hotels, transport hubs and other public institutions on safe cleaning and decontamination procedures.

He pledged the academy’s readiness to collaborate with government agencies and development partners to expand professional cleaning training nationwide, with plans to establish its presence in all states of the federation.

Fagburiyo further stressed the importance of regular handwashing and proper environmental sanitation in reducing the risk of infectious diseases and protecting communities.

Also speaking, the Head of the Institute for Humanitarian Studies and Social Development, Professor Francis Origa, urged Nigerians to prioritise personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola and other infectious diseases.

Origa said environmental sanitation and personal hygiene were essential components of disease prevention, adding that efforts to contain infectious disease outbreaks must go beyond clinical interventions.

He noted that frequently touched surfaces, including stair railings in offices, could become sources of contamination if they were not cleaned and disinfected regularly.

The humanitarian expert urged Nigerians to practise regular handwashing and appropriate hand sanitisation, particularly before and after physical contact with others.

He described the academy’s initiative as timely in view of concerns about Ebola preparedness, emphasising that public awareness and preventive measures were necessary to strengthen outbreak prevention efforts.

Origa commended PAICA for promoting professional cleaning standards and called for the expansion of its advocacy beyond Ebola to make hygiene an integral part of everyday life.

He also urged Nigerians to maintain clean surroundings, undertake appropriate pest-control and environmental sanitation measures where necessary, and take personal responsibility for preventing the spread of diseases.

He said sustained commitment to hygiene and sanitation would contribute to healthier communities, improved life expectancy and national development.