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May 17, 2016 / 15:50

Hanoi: Handwashing campaign themed “10 million clean hands”

The Ministry of Health in coordination with Minsitry of Educaiton and Training, Viet Nam Unilever Foundation yesterday launched the handwashing campaign themed “10 million clean hands” in the presence of senior officials and thousands of students, teachers in Ba Dinh District.

Senior officials at launching ceremony of handwashing campaign
Senior officials at launching ceremony of handwashing campaign
The campaign is in response to movement “Cleaning hands for future generations”. It aims to recommend people to clean hands with soap daily to protect themselves and the others. Along with contest on fanpage, the campaign offers a program on preventing seasonal diseases in 22 cities and provinces nationwide. People can register to receive warning alerts by SMS and advice from health experts. It is expected that the program will support 2.8 million mothers and children.

Vice Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy appreciated significant progress in healthcare and disease prevention, especially environment protection, personal hygiene and handwashing. In response to the campaign "10 million clean hands", Ha Noi launches a contest on fanpage “10 million clean hands” and implements communication campaigns in the community, focusing on disease prevention measures, handwashing with soap, personal hygiene and environment. They will be implemented in combination with extracurricular activities of schools, unions and information work in mass media.
 
Pupils of primary schools wash their hands with soap
Pupils of primary schools wash their hands with soap

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien emphasized that handwashing with soap helps preventing hand, foot and mouth disease, influenza, respiratory tract infection, pinkeye, diarrhea and other infectious diseases. Research of the Ministry of Health proved that malnutrition rate of children under five years old can be reduced by 1-10% if parents clean their hands with soap. However, according to statistics, only 23% of people in Viet Nam clean hands with soap before eating and 36% after using the toilet.

The campaign is launched nationwide from May to October 2016.