Kids play important role in spreading awareness on hand washing with soap, say experts

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: The role of children in spreading awareness on importance of hand washing with soap, especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, was stressed at an event was held at Subash Government higher Secondary School to mark Global Hand Washing Day, which falls on October 15.

Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is a global advocacy day, celebrated on the 15th of October every year, dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of hand hygiene, and bringing about sustainable and long-term uptake of hand washing with Soap (HWWS).

HWWS is seen to drive various positive health outcomes among communities, and the theme for 2021’s GHD, “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together”, aims to mobilize this potential, and bring about an international focus on hand hygiene as a fundamental component of public health and safety.

Speaking at the event, Ajit Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner, Swachh Bharat Mission said that children have played an important role in spreading awareness on sanitation and hand washing with soap.

He urged them to keep spreading the word and keep the momentum built on washing hands with soap in critical times. He interacted with children on the issue.

F A Jami, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh said that school children have and can help to spread information on correct practices of hand washing with soap and it is important to take the narrative forward.

Nagesh Patidar, WASH officer, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh, said thathand washing with soap can reduce diarrhoea incidence and respiratory infections, specifically among children below the age of five.

Practicing correct hand washing and building adequate hygiene infrastructure in schools could save one third of children in India from dying of diarrheal disease, respiratory infections and other transmissible diseases, he added. 

Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh spoke about COVID-19 protocols, which includes hand washing with soap, and urged children  to promote this practice of hand washing among their peers and at home.  

Gayatri Parihar, Vasudha Sansthan, coordinated the event and shared work being done by Youth4Children volunteers in Madhya Pradesh.

Sudhakar Parashar, Principal of the school spoke on importance of sanitation and education and said that programmes like these help to inculcate practical knowledge among children.