Water sanitation and hand hygiene campaign for school students launched in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Oct 15: The Minister of ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward classes, Government of Odisha Jagannath Saraka launched a campaign for SSD school students to promote hand hygiene and awareness on Global Handwashing Day on Thursday. The launch took place during a webinar jointly organised by the STSC Department and UNICEF. Government officials, partner agencies, grassroot workers, youth activists among others participated in the webinar. Speakers from all over emphasized the importance and need for minimal touch hand washing stations especially at the time of COVID-19 at schools and other public institutions. Every year on 15th October, Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is observed as a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of hand hygiene, especially through hand washing with soap, and triggering lasting change from the policy-level to community-driven action since 2008. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role hand hygiene plays in disease transmission. It provides a reminder that a seemingly simple act as washing hands with soap is an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and ensure better health outcomes overall. This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme is Hand Hygiene for All, calling for all of society to achieve universal hand hygiene now and for the future. The webinar focussed on the need to ensure everyone, particularly those in rural areas and in schools, had access to hand hygiene facilities including handwashing facilities, regular water supply, soap and alcohol-based hand rub. In addition, the webinar also stressed on encouraging behaviour change to adopt healthy hygiene practices and called for strengthened coordination, regular and financing for water and sanitation hygiene facilities and services. More than 1,200 people participated from different districts including district welfare officers, Project administrator integrated tribal development agency, Headmaster of SSD schools, NGO Partners, SC & ST Development Department & UNICEF. Saraka also inaugurated a minimal hand touch hand washing station at the premises of the Rayagada collectorate and stressed on the importance of handwashing in our daily lives. He said minimal hand touch handwashing facilities would be set up in all schools and hostels of Odisha run by STSC department.