Global Handwashing Day observed

Nearly 7.5 million students from 59,631 government primary schools yesterday observed Global Handwashing Day by washing their hands with soap across the country. The main programme, organised by the Local Government Division (LGD), the Department of Primary Education and UNICEF, was held in Residential Model School and College at Mohammadpur in the capital. Local government minister Md Tazul Islam, state minister Swapan Bhattacharjee, Local Government Division secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary Md Zahirul Islam, UNICEF Bangladesh representative Tomoo Hozumi, Directorate of Primary Education additional director-general Md Abdul Mannan, and DPHE chief engineer Md Saifur Rahman were present on the occasion.

Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing the awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap. The day is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. Since 2008, the day is celebrated every year on October 15. The theme of this year is ‘Clean Hands for All’. According to studies, washing hands with water and soap is the most cost-effective health intervention to reduce both the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia in children under five.

Handwashing with soap at critical times—before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet—can reduce diarrhea rates by more than 40 per cent and the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) by around 23 per cent.  Inequalities in handwashing facilities and lack of effective handwashing promotion programmmes can put individuals at higher risk  of diseases impacting their health, education, and economic outcomes.

To sustain the gains and to improve the current situation of handwashing behaviour, it important that everybody get access handwashing facilities with soap and water. These include people in urban and rural areas, people across all financial status, vulnerable groups, such as elderly and people with disabilities, and marginalised groups like indigenous and displaced populations. Besides, educational institutions, health facilities, workplaces, and households should also be able to avail this facility.

 

 

Global Handwashing Day observed

Nearly 7.5 million students from 59,631 government primary schools yesterday observed Global Handwashing Day by washing their hands with soap across the country. The main programme, organised by the Local Government Division (LGD), the Department of Primary Education and UNICEF, was held in Residential Model School and College at Mohammadpur in the capital. Local government minister Md Tazul Islam, state minister Swapan Bhattacharjee, Local Government Division secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary Md Zahirul Islam, UNICEF Bangladesh representative Tomoo Hozumi, Directorate of Primary Education additional director-general Md Abdul Mannan, and DPHE chief engineer Md Saifur Rahman were present on the occasion. Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing the awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap. The day is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. Since 2008, the day is celebrated every year on October 15. The theme of this year is Clean Hands for All. According to studies, washing hands with water and soap is the most cost-effective health intervention to reduce both the incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia in children under five. Handwashing with soap at critical timesbefore eating or preparing food and after using the toiletcan reduce diarrhea rates by more than 40 per cent and the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) by around 23 per cent. Inequalities in handwashing facilities and lack of effective handwashing promotion programmmes can put individuals at higher risk of diseases impacting their health, education, and economic outcomes. To sustain the gains and to improve the current situation of handwashing behaviour, it important that everybody get access handwashing facilities with soap and water. These include people in urban and rural areas, people across all financial status, vulnerable groups, such as elderly and people with disabilities, and marginalised groups like indigenous and displaced populations. Besides, educational institutions, health facilities, workplaces, and households should also be able to avail this facility.