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“Save few seconds to protect children’s health” is the message sent on the global hand-washing day. Photo: The launching campaign responding to the global hand-washing day in Ngo May primary school. |
Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 47% and respiratory infections by 30%. However, the community isn’t still concerned of this simple routine.
* Only 0.4% washes hands with soap before eating
Currently, 80 percent of human diseases are believed to relate to the water and environmental sanitation. 50% must be hospitalized, including 25,000 deaths every day.
Statistics showed that nearly half of high-risk infectious diseases are closely connected with the personal hygiene, particularly hand-washing with soap in Vietnam.
In Binh Dinh, there are annually 7,000 turns of diarrhoea disease-infected people. The real figure is, in fact, bigger than statistics.
The people’s low awareness of hygienic practices by simple act of washing their hands is one of reasons causing diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
The result of a recent study showed that the rate of people nationwide who do not wash their hands frequently is quite high.
The simple act of washing hands with soap is not done frequently in reality. A study carried out in 15 communes in Districts of Hoai Nhon, Hoai An, and An Nhon and 86 schools in Binh Dinh proved the low rate of people washing hands with soap. Only 0.4% washes hands before eat and 0.3% and 1.7% after contact with excreta.
Washing hands without soap is becoming an inborn habit which badly affects the people’s health, particularly children.
* Just few secs…!
In early 2008, eight provinces were selected to participate in the project of enhancing the rate of hand-washing with soap, preventing water and excreta-related diseases. It aims to reduce the rate of such diseases in under-five children.
Binh Dinh has carried out series of activities in five communes of Cat Hanh, Cat Khanh, Cat Nhon, Cat Tuong, and Ngo May town in Phu Cat District from May to September.
Alongside messages conveyed on the mass media, the information on related issues was provided for the medical staff.
Binh Dinh Women’s Union has conducted a health campaign launched the WB and Ministry of Health to embrace more hygienic practices by washing hands with soap in 30 communes in Districts of Hoai Nhon and Tuy Phuoc and Quy Nhon city.
Changing the hygienic practices by washing hands with soap was expected to raise the people’s awareness of washing hands properly for children’s health and development, according to Nguyen Thi Dang, vice chairwoman of provincial women’s union.
Many mothers know well about benefits of hand-washing with soap but don’t know how to wash hands properly, she added. We need, therefore, know how to wash our hands properly.
Save few seconds to protect children’s health!
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