UNICEF targets half a million pupils for hand washing in Volta Region
Mr David Duncan, the Chief of Water Sanitation Health (WASH), has said about half a million pupils in 3,900 schools in the Volta Region have been targeted to be sensitised to Hand Washing with Water and Soap (HWWS) using tippy-taps.
Mr. Duncan was speaking at the Global Hand Washing Day celebration and the launch of the Volta Region Tippy Tap campaign.
He said although Ghana was a middle- income country, children continued to fall sick and die from preventable diseases with about 10, 000 dying annually.
The UNICEF Representative lauded the Region for recording 20 per cent increase in hand washing, but said more needed to be done.
Mr Duncan said the tippy tap initiative was, therefore, to build on the gains to make hand washing a habit among pupils and students.
Madam Helen Ntoso, the Volta Regional Minister, said there was an ongoing campaign promoted by the Government and various NGOs to boost awareness on the importance of having designated places for hand washing with water and soap.
She said the practice of hand washing with soap and water was low as statistics in the Region had shown that 80 per cent had water, but a low proportion constituting 39 per cent actually had soap and water.
Madam Ntoso explained that the ultimate goal of the “Truly Clean Hands” campaign was to have a country where hand washing with soap and water at critical times was readily accepted and practised by all.
According to the United States Center for Disease Control, handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings—from the home and workplace to child care facilities and hospitals.
Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community .
It recommends the washing of hands with soap, during, and after preparing food; beforeeating food; before and after caring for someone who is sick; before and after treating a cut or wound and after using the toilet.
Handwashing is also recommended after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; after touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste and after touching garbage.
Source: GNA