Unilever Ghana Limited has, through its Lifebuoy Soap, commemorated thisyear\u2019s Global Handwashing Day with a handwashing festival at the Independence Square in Accra.<\/p>\n
Each year, Lifebuoy commemorates the day, which is observed on 15th\u00a0 October, by calling on people to inculcate the habit of washing hands with soap under running water.<\/p>\n
Dubbed\u00a0 \u201cHigh5 for handwashing-Give us a high5 and we\u2019ll teach 5 kids handwashing\u201d, the objective of the handwashing festival was to teach one million children in the country, the proper way of washing hands.<\/p>\n
It was also aimed at heightening awareness about Lifebuoy\u2019s commitment to handwashing with soap under running water before breakfast, lunch, dinner, after visiting the toilet and during daily bath to help children reach the age of 5.<\/p>\n
In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana Limited,\u00a0 Mr. Yeo Ziobeieton said the company finds it worrying that although people around the world clean their hands with water, very few use soap to wash their hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when soap is available, it is sometimes reserved for laundry and bathing instead of for hand washing. Washing hands with soap removes germs much more effectively than doing so with only water\u201d, he emphasized.<\/p>\n
Lifebuoy has over the years raised social consciousness in relation to adopting hygienic behaviour that promote human sustainability. Mr. Ziobeieton therefore encouraged Ghanaians to share their High5s with Lifebuoy using #high5forhandwashingGh.<\/p>\n
The Managing Director of Unilever Ghana also said the company is going beyond teaching Ghanaians how to\u00a0 wash\u00a0 their\u00a0 hands;\u00a0 \u201cthe Unilever\u00a0 Ghana\u00a0 Foundation,\u00a0 recently\u00a0 handed over\u00a0 seven\u00a0 newly constructed hygiene stations to selected basic schools within the Tema metropolis at a total cost of GHC800,000.<\/p>\n
It is estimated\u00a0 that\u00a0 over 3,800 pupils\u00a0 and\u00a0 an\u00a0 additional\u00a0 6,500 community\u00a0 members would\u00a0 benefit\u00a0 from thef acilities. This is another initiative by Unilever to help enhance sanitation and hygiene needs of Ghanaians\u201d,Mr. Ziobeieton said.<\/p>\n
The First Lady, H.E. Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo who was the Guest of Honour noted that the significance of children\u2019s hands to their health and for that matter their future cannot be overemphasized.<\/p>\n
\u2018Children use their hands to pick, lift, touch, hold, smear and fix things. In the process, their hands come into contact withall manner of germs, which can be dangerous to their health if ingested\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n
She used the occasion to dispel the long held belief that African germs don\u2019t kill saying,\u00a0 \u201ca visit to our CHPS compounds, healthcenters, clinics and hospitals gives an indication of the health implications of ignorantly swallowing that seemingly harmless dirt on a child\u2019s hands\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mrs.\u00a0 Akufo-Addo\u00a0 emphasized\u00a0 that\u00a0 handwashing\u00a0 with\u00a0 soap\u00a0 is\u00a0 a\u00a0 \u201cdo\u00a0 \u00a0it\u00a0 \u00a0yourself\u00a0 \u00a0vaccine\u201d\u00a0 that\u00a0 prevents infections and save lives and urged all Ghanaians to make it a habit.<\/p>\n
The event brought together about 2500 children and dignitaries from the Ministries of Education, Health,Gender, Children and Social Protection as well as Water Resources and Sanitation. It was also used to settwo Guinness World Records on handwashing with soap.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Unilever Ghana Limited has, through its Lifebuoy Soap, commemorated thisyear\u2019s Global Handwashing Day with a handwashing festival at the Independence Square in Accra. Each year, Lifebuoy commemorates the day, which is observed on 15th\u00a0 October, by calling on people to inculcate the habit of washing hands with soap under running water. Dubbed\u00a0 \u201cHigh5 for handwashing-Give […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n