FIFTY-four schools in the Western Division have been chosen to highlight the importance of good hygiene and to lead the nationwide hand washing program that was launched at Xavier College in Ba yesterday.
The schools were chosen by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services as official hand washing stations.
While launching the program, Health and Medical Services assistant minister Alex O’Connor said the objective of the initiative was to reach out to schools and educate the students on ways they could help prevent diseases which were associated with poor sanitation and hygiene practices such as typhoid.
“Typhoid fever spreads through contaminated food and water,” he said.
“Frequent hand washing with soap and water is the best way to prevent the spread of diseases. “Wash hands before eating or preparing food and after using the toilet.”
He said the program was made possible through the ministry’s partnership with major sponsors Ocean Soaps Ltd and Punja and Sons Ltd.
Ocean Soaps Ltd group marketing manager Gopal Jadhav said the company was a proud partner of the initiative.
“For our children, this is a very simple, most effective and inexpensive tool of hand washing with soap and making a habit of this practice ourselves is a major investment in our future health and wellbeing.”
