Statewide campaign to promote handwashing

Students participating in the State-level inauguration of the Global Handwashing Day, organised by the Unicef and the Rotary International at Government Girls HSS, Peroorkada, in the city on Thursday.— Photo: S. Mahinsha

The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), in association with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) on Thursday, launched a month-long campaign in schools across the State to promote the habit of washing hands using soap.

The Statewide campaign was inaugurated at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Peroorkada. Inaugurating the campaign, State Project Director of SSA E.P. Mohandas said proper washing of hands could prevent diseases. Students were being told to wash hands immediately after coughing, after travelling outdoors, and before and after meals, he said.

Heads of schools have been asked to carry out a campaign to inculcate the habit of handwashing to prevent bacterial diseases, he said. Rotary International and Kerala Child Rights Observatory are also partners in the campaign.