Capiz to join 1stGlobal Handwashing Day
ROXAS CITY – A simultaneous hand washing activity will be conducted in all Rural Health Units (RHU) in the province on October 15, 2008 in line with the 1stworldwide observance of the first ever Global Handwashing Day.
"A corner designated as the hand washing area will be established by the RHUs provincewide," said Provincial Health Office Sanitary Inspector Jane delos Reyes, who convened the province's Rural Sanitary Inspectors for the upcoming event.
The facilities for the RHU washing area are provided by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The Day is expected to gather millions of elementary and secondary school children of the country who will join millions of other children around the world for the celebration.
The Department of Education has enjoined all public elementary and secondary schools to actively participate in the global activity through the organization of educational and social activities in order to strengthen awareness and disseminate information on the significance of handwashing with soap and water as the simplest and most cost-effective way of improving sanitation and hygiene.
The worldwide activity is in support to the 2008 International Year of Sanitation as declared by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the importance of sanitation to all of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The country's MDG for the year 2015 is to ensure that 86.8% of the population will have access to safe water and 73.8% of the population will have access to a sanitary toilet facility. (PIA/A.Lumaque)