Global Handwashing Day was observed at Muslim Government Higher Secondary School in Vellore on Tuesday, where the teachers and students were urged to maintain hygiene and consider it an important aspect of lifestyle.
The annual event is aimed at understanding the importance of washing hands with soap to prevent diseases.
Students were taught the proper way of washing one’s hands in eight steps — wetting hands with clean and warm running water; applying soap; rubbing palms together away from the water; soaping fingers and thumbs and the skin between them; scouring palms with nails; rubbing the back of each hand; rinsing with clean running water; and drying the hands with a clean towel.
With the Global Handwashing Day coinciding with the birth anniversary of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, schools and other organisations observed the day with different events.
While inaugurating the day-long programme at Vellore, the District Collector, A. Shanmuga Sundaram said that students are vulnerable to diseases due to pollutants and should be taught to maintain personal hygiene as well as ensuring a clean surrounding.
Apart from students, workers, hospital staff, personnel travelling in buses and trains should cultivate the habit of cleaning their hands and legs after work to maintain a disease-free life, he said.
Trees planted
Setting an example to ensure a healthy surrounding, he, along with the officials from public health department and education department planted saplings inside the school campus.
The Global Handwashing Day founded by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (GHP), is an annual event aimed at understanding the importance of washing hands with soap to prevent diseases and illnesses, according to the GHP website.
