How handwashing with soap can help save lives
Research shows that washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent diarrhoea and can reduce diarrhoea deaths by more than 40%.
Many diseases, including diarrhoea, are transmitted by a failure to practise basic hygiene. Diarrhoea is the third leading cause of deaths among children under five and presents a major public health problem in South Africa.
Research shows that washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to prevent diarrhoea and can reduce diarrhoea deaths by more than 40%.
The challenge is that handwashing with soap is not commonly practised. The National Hand Hygiene Behaviour Change Strategy (2016 – 2022) suggests that handwashing with soap at critical times is only adhered to approximately 5-15% of the time.
In partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Dettol has launched the Good Health Is In Your Hands campaign focussing on hand-hygiene behaviour change.
https://twitter.com/DettolSA/status/1052150441218322432
The campaign involves mass media communication aimed at encouraging handwashing with soap and water at critical times and encourages children and the public to Pledge to wash hands with soap and water.
The partnership has seen Dettol visiting primary schools across Johannesburg on a quest to donate Tippy Taps, cost-effective handwashing stations that aims to encouraging children to always wash their hands with soap and water.
“One of the major risk factors in the spread of diarrhoea is that people do not follow good hygiene habits. We can change this behaviour by explaining the value of handwashing, and by making it easier for children to wash their hands,” said Dr Susan Louw of the National Health Laboratory Service.
These stations or kits are created from locally sourced materials, including a 2l bottle with cap and a tube to funnel water together with posters that guide learners on how to wash hands effectively. Pledging is free at www.Dettol.co.za and each pledge received will help to provide resources to educate a child on hand hygiene.
Good health is in your hands and I just sign a pledge for hand hygiene. Please take some time to pledge for yourself on https://t.co/FlMVR7OoBE. It is free and for every pledge made @DettolSA have committed themselves to educate one child on hand hygiene #Dettolactive pic.twitter.com/Pydqp74lcs
— Matimba🐸 (@VoiceD88) November 4, 2018
Follow Us Here:
Catch the latest news by visiting our other platforms:
