Global Handwashing Day 2019 – ‘Clean Hands For All’

Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to advocating for handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. Global Handwashing Day is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on 15th October. The 2019 Global Handwashing Day theme is “Clean Hands for All.”

This year on the eve of Global Handwashing Day, a circular was issued to organise Handwashing activities in school with community participation by Bihar Education Project Council. PHIA Foundation’s team implementing “Swachh Bachpan Muskurata Bachpan Program, coordinated and provided the required IEC materials like chart papers, sketch pens, colours, paints, buckets, mugs and soaps to carry out drawing and painting competition, slogan writing competition and handwashing activities in the intervention schools. Many of the schools held rallies to create awareness about Global Handwashing day and the importance of cleanliness and handwash with soaps. The Phia team and the teachers supported the children for creating placards to the rally.

The Head Teachers of school and PHIA team members addressed the children and spoke about the importance of Handwashing with Soap and the importance of observing Global Handwashing Day. The children learned and came to know how handwashing with soap is before meals and after the toilet is beneficial to them.  They were made aware of how creating awareness through rally and media coverage about handwashing with soap can help the community people healthy and free from many of the diseases.  Teachers play an important role in promoting behavioural change among the children by providing facilities and ensuring children adopting handwashing practices on a regular basis. Thus, improving children’s immunity to diseases and regular attendance in the schools.  The teachers actively participated along with PHIA team in organising activities both on 14th and 15th October to leave an impact on the children.  In many of the schools, group handwashing was carried out with proper demonstration of handwashing techniques (6 steps of handwashing) by Bal Sansad children and teachers. Although community participation was a bit low but happy to be part of the handwash activities in most of the schools. Despite ongoing half-yearly examinations in the schools of Sitamadhi, children and teachers participated enthusiastically in Handwashing and drawing competition.

Promotion of Soap Bank: Global Handwashing Day was a perfect time and opportunity to sensitise children and teachers to promote Soap banks and establish them for regular use of soaps for handwashing in the schools. Many of the schools already have soap banks and remaining schools have ensured to set up them soon.

Details of District wise participation is as under: