Hand-washing before eating and after using the toilet is the most effective and cheapest way to prevent diarrhea and pneumonia. (Source: VNA)Local authorities, students and members of the provincial Women’s Union attended a ceremony on October 11 in the central province of Ninh Thuan for Global Hand-Washing Day on October 15.
The Vietnam Women’s Union and the National Centre for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised this year’s event, themed Joining Hands to Improve Hand-Washing. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided additional support.
The event aimed to promote the habit of washing one’s hands with soap and water for their own benefit; for their community; and for the health of their children, who are the future of the nation, said Nguyen Thanh Luan, director of the centre.
Rigorous hand-washing before eating and after using the toilet is the most effective and cheapest way to prevent diarrhea and pneumonia. It would save more lives than any antibiotic.
Hand-washing with soap is proven to halve the risk of intestinal and respiratory infections.
Over the past several years, a wide range of joint efforts were made by the Government, international organisations and communities to ensure safe, clean living conditions for people in rural areas.
Publicity campaigns have also been conducted to enhance awareness about the practice of staying clean to improve public health.
Frayday Nwaigwe, head of UNICEF’s Young Child Survival and Development Programme, stressed the need for hand-washing to protect health and prevent infectious diseases and hailed the contribution Vietnam has made to the Global Hand-Washing Day campaign.
However, few people wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating – especially in rural and remote areas, he said.
The programme pledged to continue its support for education on hand-washing.
The Women’s Union district chapters in the province signed an agreement on a family health initiative called Clean House, Clean Kitchen, Clean Neighbourhood.
A number of games were also organised to promote clean habits.-VNA
