Mr Eric Koffie, the Acting Oti Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), has called on Ghanaians to make handwashing a habit to curb the spread of infectious diseases.
He said communities ought to be brought to the greatest awareness on proper hand hygiene to prevent outbreaks and pandemics as well as reduce preventable deaths especially in vulnerable populations such as children under five.
Mr Koffie said this during the commemoration of the Global Handwashing Day in the Nkwanta South Municipality, explaining that the day was dedicated to increase awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap as effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
He said the day offered a positive opportunity to remind individuals and communities about the importance of hand hygiene.
Mr Koffie said the widespread recognition of hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic must remain a focal reference and the useful lessons learnt should never be thrown away.
He therefore charged the students to carry the message and lessons they picked during the handwashing demonstration home and effect the same change in their communities.
Mr Koffie urged all to be creative and construct tippy taps, wash hands with soap or ash.
Mr Atsu Amani, Coordinator of Nkwanta South Municipal School Health Education Programme, said they were committed to promoting hand hygiene practices in various schools to help reduce the incidence of preventable illness.
The Ghana Education Service in collaboration with Global Communities under the USAID Wash for Health project, held the event at the premises of the Nkwanta JHS ‘A’ School.
St Theresa JHS was crowned the winner of a quiz competition organised on hand hygiene.
The day was celebrated on the theme: “Why are Clean Hands Still Important?”
