Pupils wash their hands with soap at the meeting in Hanoi to mark Global Handwashing Day on October 15 (Photo: hanoimoi)Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 2,000 primary teachers and pupils in Hanoi joinedofficials and delegates from international organisations at a meeting held inthe city on October 15 in response to Global Handwashing Day.
Speaking at theevent, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said washinghands with soap is a simple action but the rate of frequent hand-washing withsoap remains low in Vietnam, even at medical establishments.
Long stressed thatit is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases such ashand-foot-mouth disease, diarrhea and typhoid fever, particularly among pupils.
The officialcalled on sectors, administrations at all levels, organisations and mediaagencies to join hands with the health sector in promoting communicationcampaigns in different forms to raise public awareness of the importance ofhand-washing.
At the meeting,the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training and the UnileverVietnam Fund pledged to jointly carry out programmes on improving public healthand developing green, clean and strong schools in Vietnam for 2017-2022.
All participantswashed their hands with soap at the meeting.
Since 2008,Vietnam has actively responded to Global Handwashing Day through variouscommunication campaigns.
Diarrhea, whichis caused by poor sanitation and clean water shortage, was ranked second among commondiseases in Vietnam. However, many locals are yet to form the habit of regularhand-washing with soap.-VNA
VNA
