Have you washed up?

Schools should insist that children wash hands to prevent infections

Marianne de Nazareth

Hand washing helps to contain the spread of infection. Washing of hands is a ritual most of us should be particular about in India before eating a meal. That's because we eat with our fingers. We tend to be careless when in a hurry and what's worse is we use unclean hands to feed others, especially children.

October 15 has been dedicated to Hand-washing Day across the world. Global Hand-washing Day aims at motivating children to imitate and spread proper hand-washing practices, and turn them into little “hand-washing ambassadors”. It follows that if the child is taught correctly, they will in turn teach the next generation. Studies also suggest that hand-washing promotion in schools can play a role in reducing absenteeism among primary school children.

Reduce diarrhoea

There is a simple explanation for that — hand-washing with soap has been cited as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent diarrhoeal related deaths and disease. A review of several studies by the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), shows that hand-washing in institutions such as primary schools and daycare centres reduce the incidence of diarrhoea by an average of 30 per cent. Rates of hand-washing around the world are low. Observed rates of hand-washing with soap at critical moments – before handling food and after using the toilet - range from zero per cent to 34 per cent. “More than 1.5 million children under five die each year as a result of diarrhoea — it is the second most common cause of child deaths worldwide. Hand-washing with soap can save lives by reducing diarrhoea rates by more than 40 per cent,” explains David Trouba, the Programme Officer, WSSCC.

“Hand washing is quintessential in preventing transmission of infections. In the hospital, washing hands as doctors and nurses move from one patient to the next has reduced the spread of contagious diseases. It has also brought down the numbers of infections contracted by healthcare personnel. It is therefore an important means of bringing down respiratory and skin infections. We should remember to wash hands before each meal and also after we touch any object or person capable of transmitting infection. The method of hand washing whereby each finger and inter-digital space is washed thoroughly has to be mastered by all”, adds Jyothi a doctor from St John's Medical College and Hospital.

“On Hand-washing Day we appealed for a change in routine at two critical times in a day – hand washing with soap before eating and after defecation. The practice of hand washing is a behavioural change issue and hence ‘Hand washing Day' tries to bring this into focus every year world-wide,” says Deepinder Kapur of WSSCC.

Our schools should insist on spreading the concept of regular hand washing among their children. By teaching children to be clean, we can help save many young lives and prevent expensive unnecessary hospital treatment.
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*** Media Advisory ***


Global Handwashing Day


Lathering up: October 15 – More than just a Day

WHAT: Over 80 countries and at least 200 million children, parents, teachers, celebrities and citizens are soaping up for the third annual Global Handwashing Day. Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective and affordable health interventions known to man. Visit http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/

On October 15, 2009, 15,115 people washed hands at an event at Nehru Stadium, Chennai, India, and achieved the Guinness World Record for `most people washing hands at one location'. On the same day, 52,970 people washed hands in different places in Bangladesh, attaining the Guinness World Record for `most people washing hands at multiple locations'.


WHEN: October 15, 2010

WHO: Global Handwashing Day is endorsed by a wide array of governments, UN agencies, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies and individuals worldwide and is an initiative of the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap.

WHERE: In over 80 countries on five continents, Global Handwashing Day events will take place in tens of thousands of schools, community centers, and public spaces. Some programs planned include:

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are seeking to set a Guinness World Record for handwashing;

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Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will launch her nation's hygiene promotion campaign with a hand-washing event.
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Madagascar is supporting youth radio reporters to incite people to wash their hands on the air.
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Yemen is planning a mass media campaign involving television, radio and the press to reach children and their families.

WHY: Each year, diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections are responsible for the deaths of more than 3.5 million children under the age of five. Washing hands with soap and water especially at the critical times – after using the toilet and before handling food – helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by more than 40 percent, yet the behaviour is seldom practiced and difficult to promote. Global Handwashing Day aims to transform handwashing from an abstract idea to an automatic behavior.

Attention broadcasters: For handwashing b-roll and PSAs, visit: http://weshare.unicef.org/pickup?key=S8cf8f010-4b81-42f5-8339-5aa78cfc0cd9

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/globalhandwashingday

For further information, please contact:

Emily Meehan, UNICEF New York, Tel: 1212 326 7224 emeehan@unicef.org
Katie Carroll, Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing Tel: 202-884-8551 kcarroll@aed.org
Dave Trouba, Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) Geneva Tel: +41 22 560 81 78 Email: david.trouba@wsscc.org