Meeting marks World Handwashing Day

The meeting aims encourage people to adopt better sanitation habits by washing their hands with soap, improving hygiene standards for the current generation and especially for children - the future generation.

Participants took part in a wide range of activities at the event, such as dancing, and learning the six steps to washing hands with clean water.

Nguyen Thanh Luan, vice director of the National Centre for Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation, said that in addition to changing citizens’ habits and awareness, clean water and soap should be provided for people with difficulties. The World Bank recently approved a USD200 financing package for Vietnam to help the country implement a water and sanitation program across 21 Northern and Central Highland provinces. It is a priority of the Government to improve water supply and sanitation conditions for people in mountainous regions.

Lalit Patra, Chief of UNICEF Vietnam’s Water and Sanitation team, said the annual event aims to raise hygiene awareness throughout the community, to encourage villages to safely dispose of waste, and to build and use toilets. A main aim is to help children understand the importance of personal hygiene in protecting their health.

Since 2008, Vietnam has actively contributed to the Handwashing movement through a series of activities. Washing hands with soap is proven to be both effective and economical in preventing diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia./.