UNICEF observed Global Hand Washing Day at different schools here on Thursday. Job Zachariah, chief, UNICEF, Jharkhand, while addressing students of loyola school ADl Sunshine Schools, said a simple act of hand washing with soap before eating and after defecation can prevent 15-20% of child deaths every year. This is equivalent to saving about 6,000 children from death every year in Jharkhand. The major killers of children are pneumonia and diarrhea. About 30% of pneumonia incidence and 40% of diarrhea cases can be prevented by washing hands with soap.
Stating that children are powerful agents of change in family and community, Zachariah sought the support of students to promote this practice. “If a daughter asks her father to wash his hands before eating food, which father will ignore it”, he asked.
Kumar Premchand, WASH Specialist, UNICEF said that handwashing with soap is the most cost effective and simple way to prevent diseases.
Father Fr. Sebastian Puthenpura, principal of loyola School, Fr. Jaison Joshua, vice principal of loyola School and Indrani Singh, principal of ADl Sunshine School, Jamshedpur and Moira Dawa, communication officer UNICEF were present at the event.