This is going to be the biggest ever exercise of its kind, more than 120 million children across South Asia will wash their hands with soap at the same time, in the same way to mark Global Hand Washing Day in the International Year of Sanitation.
From Kabul to Karachi, Kathmandu to Kerala and Colombo to Dhaka, Wednesday, October 15 is likely to break all records as millions of children practise the power of proper sanitation through soap suds and pledging not to leave their human excreta in the open. International cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has also joined forces with UNICEF to get Indian children to wash their hands for better health and hygiene as part of the first ever Global Hand Washing Day.
South Asia has the highest rate in the world of people using no toilet at all world – 48 per cent of the population (next highest, sub-Saharan Africa is only 28 per cent) – with some 778 million people still relying on open defecation, the riskiest sanitation practice of all. The hygiene promotion activities and events are aimed at lifting the lid on this, one of the world’s ‘last taboos’ which presents serious health risks from diarrhea, worm infestations, hepatitis and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia – all the biggest killers of children. It is also one of the greatest environmental hazards and the greatest contributor to malnutrition in the region.
As UNICEF recognizes children as the most powerful agents of change in society, events on Global Hand Washing Day are being centered around schools, drama groups, presented by animated characters on television, cartoons in newspapers, jingles on radio stations, television shows about real soap and real sanitation, to show that hand washing with soap would make a significant contribution to the region meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Specially timed songs of 20-25 seconds, will ring out across the length and breadth of South Asia, so children will get into the swing of making hand washing a fun habit.
“Having a celebrity of this magnitude, who is instantly recognizable to cricket fans not only in India but also around the world, will help us mobilize millions of young people,” said Karin Hulshof.
Globally, South Asia has the worst sanitation indicators and six of the eight countries in the region are not on target to meet the sanitation millennium development goal. Only Pakistan and Sri Lanka are so far going to achieve their goals ‘Improved sanitation’ goals of dramatically reducing related deaths among under -fives by 2015. This refers to using any facility that hygienically separates human waste from the environment.
“It is inspiring to see all our partners, teachers, politicians and NGOs - and most importantly children themselves – put so much energy and enthusiasm into Global Hand Washing Day. We know that children themselves can transform this day into an automatic act and this will dramatically improve the chances of their countries to reach the MDGs.”
-DM
From Kabul to Karachi, Kathmandu to Kerala and Colombo to Dhaka, Wednesday, October 15 is likely to break all records as millions of children practise the power of proper sanitation through soap suds and pledging not to leave their human excreta in the open. International cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has also joined forces with UNICEF to get Indian children to wash their hands for better health and hygiene as part of the first ever Global Hand Washing Day.
South Asia has the highest rate in the world of people using no toilet at all world – 48 per cent of the population (next highest, sub-Saharan Africa is only 28 per cent) – with some 778 million people still relying on open defecation, the riskiest sanitation practice of all. The hygiene promotion activities and events are aimed at lifting the lid on this, one of the world’s ‘last taboos’ which presents serious health risks from diarrhea, worm infestations, hepatitis and acute respiratory infections like pneumonia – all the biggest killers of children. It is also one of the greatest environmental hazards and the greatest contributor to malnutrition in the region.
As UNICEF recognizes children as the most powerful agents of change in society, events on Global Hand Washing Day are being centered around schools, drama groups, presented by animated characters on television, cartoons in newspapers, jingles on radio stations, television shows about real soap and real sanitation, to show that hand washing with soap would make a significant contribution to the region meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Specially timed songs of 20-25 seconds, will ring out across the length and breadth of South Asia, so children will get into the swing of making hand washing a fun habit.
“Having a celebrity of this magnitude, who is instantly recognizable to cricket fans not only in India but also around the world, will help us mobilize millions of young people,” said Karin Hulshof.
Globally, South Asia has the worst sanitation indicators and six of the eight countries in the region are not on target to meet the sanitation millennium development goal. Only Pakistan and Sri Lanka are so far going to achieve their goals ‘Improved sanitation’ goals of dramatically reducing related deaths among under -fives by 2015. This refers to using any facility that hygienically separates human waste from the environment.
“It is inspiring to see all our partners, teachers, politicians and NGOs - and most importantly children themselves – put so much energy and enthusiasm into Global Hand Washing Day. We know that children themselves can transform this day into an automatic act and this will dramatically improve the chances of their countries to reach the MDGs.”
-DM
