October 15 is Global Handwashing Day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) diarrhea kills almost 2 million children all over the world each year.
Studies have shown that washing hands with soap can reduce deaths from diarrhea by almost 50 percent and deaths from acute respiratory infections by 25 percent.
Handwashing with soap is the single most cost effective health intervention to prevent death and diseases that are related to diarrhea. It can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention.
According to the Garantisadong Pambata (GP) Program, it is important that hands should be scrubbed with soap for at least 20 seconds. Hands should always be washed with soap after using the toilet, before eating, and before handling food.
As part of GP’s service delivery, certain activities will be conducted such as Vitamin A Supplementation, deworming, immunization, and oral health. (PHO/PIA)
