Global Handwashing Day held to fight diseases

MANILA -- It was a day filled with fun and educational activities for Tipas Elementary School students as they observed Global Handwashing Day, an advocacy campaign on the importance of proper hand washing, last October 15.

The campaign, headed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, aims to spread awareness around the world to make proper hand washing a way to fight diseases.

It also aims to make hand washing a priority campaign of the government and other agencies, UNICEF's Katrina Arianne Ebora said.

UNICEF also reminded the public about the 'critical moments' when it is highly important to wash hands. These are after playtime, before breastfeeding, before preparing food, before and after eating, and after using the toilet.

The event did not only involve hand washing, as students also participated in interactive activities, such as "germs scavenger hunt" and "germ quiz."

Teachers, parents, and even the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DepEd) joined. Dr. Ella Cecilia Naliponguit of DepEd shared, "Kami po sa Department of Education, we recognize simple hand washing for 20 seconds."

For Gerald Basaca of DOH, hand washing should not be belittled as it is "the simplest and most cost-effective means of preventing diseases" using "clean water and antibacterial soap."

Meanwhile, asked why hand washing is important, one student answered, "para makaiwas sa germs," while another one answered, "para hindi magkasakit."