The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in partnership with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rotary International, and Kerala Child Rights Observatory will launch a month-long campaign in the State, starting October 14, to inculcate the habit of handwashing in people to prevent bacterial diseases.
Chief of Unicef, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Job Zachariah, said “handwashing with soap is considered to be the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diseases. It is estimated to reduce diarrhoea by 30 per cent and respiratory infections such as pneumonia by 21 per cent in children under age of five. It also prevents serious water-borne diseases such as typhoid, worm infestation, jaundice, H1NI, Ebola, skin and eye infection.”
Soap’s impact
Washing hands with water alone is considered less effective than washing with soap. “Using soap adds to the time spent washing, breaks down grease and dirt that carry most germs,” he said in a release.
A function would be held here to launch the campaign across the State.
