State to observe Handwashing Day

The Times of India, TNN 16 October 2009

JAIPUR: About 10 million children in one lakh schools of Rajasthan, 40,000 aganwadi centres and primary health centres at 237 blocks will observe 
the second Global Handwashing Day campaign on October 27, 2009 and the target is to sustain this hygenic practice round the year. This was disclosed here on Thursday at the media sensitisation workshop on global handwashing day 2009, organized by Communication and capacity Building Development Unit (CCDU) , State Water and Sanitation Mission, Rajasthan and UNICEF-Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is preparing for Global Handwashing campaign-as the UN International Year of Sanitation is echoing and reinforcing its call for improved hygiene practices. As October 15 marks the second annual Global Handwashing Day throughout the world, but due to Diwali, the government decided to organize the state level function in rural school near Jaipur on 27 th October, 09.

The speakers at the media workshop-Communication Specialist Anuradha Mahrashi, CCDU Executive CCDU, Mr Hemant Joshi, B Praveen from the state government emphasised that hand washing with soap is the most effective and least expensive way to prevent diarroheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children in developing countries every year. Together, they are responsible for the majority of all child deaths. They said that despite its lifesaving potential, hand washing with soap is seldom practised and difficult to promote.

Mr Samuel Mawunganidz, Rajasthan state chief of UNICEF, said that children work as agent for behaviour change, therefore the campaign is focusing on children, schools, families and communities.

India has largest number of people that defecate in open, says United Nations

The Times of India PTI 15 October 2009

UNITED NATIONS: Highlighting that safe disposal of faeces is critical for reducing the number of diarrhoea cases, United Nations on Wednesday 
stressed on the need for hygienic sanitary practices to combat the disease, the second greatest killer of children after Malaria.

A joint study by the World Health organisation and UNICEF 'Diarrhoea: Why Children Are Still Dying and What Can Be Done', also pointed out that India has the largest number of persons that defecate in the open worldwide.

Out of a total of 2.5 billion people worldwide that defecate openly, 665 million belong to India. Some 88 per cent of diarrhoeal deaths worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

"Improving access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and promoting good hygiene are key components in preventing diarrhoea," the report said noting that one in four persons in the developing world do not use clean toilets.

The problem is further compounded by unsafe disposal of children faeces in developing countries, the study said.

"It is a tragedy that diarrhoea, which is little more than an inconvenience in the developed world, kills an estimated 1.5 million children each year," Ann M Veneman, UNICEF chief said.

The chief further noted, that though inexpensive and effective treatments for diarrhoea exist, in developing countries only 39 per cent of children receive the recommended treatment.

The report also underlines that recent introduction of zinc tablets into treatment programmes in India and Pakistan has helped children fight off diarrhoea more effectively.

Zinc has been associated with a 25 per cent reduction in the duration of acute diarrhoea, as well as a 40 per cent reduction in treatment failure and death in persistent diarrhoea.

It also states that handwashing with soap is the most cost effective intervention for reducing child deaths as it lowers the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by over 40 per cent.

The study also presents a seven-point plan to reduce diarrhoea deaths, which include: replacing body fluids to prevent dehydration, zinc treatments to build immunity, immunisation against rotavirus and measles, improved water supply, sanitation and hand washing with soap.

"We know where children are dying of diarrhoea. We know what must be done to prevent those deaths. We must work with governments and partners to put this seven-point plan into action," Margaret Chan, Head WHO said.

Sanitation Campaign carried out in villages

The drive was conducted by the Rural Development & Panchayat Department in collaboration with the NGO Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (Regd), the Health and Sanitation Wing of the Municipal Corporation and the Forest Department. 

During the course of the drive, the roads, streets, drains and surroundings of the villages were swept and cleaned by the safaiwalas of Rural Development & Panchayat Department, volunteers of the NGO and the Gram Panchayats and the  safaiwalas of  the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh.  Lime powder and pesticides were sprayed on the garbage heaps, dustbin sites and manure pits.

A tree plantation drive was also carried out and hundred saplings provided by the Forest Department were planted on the common land of the two villages. 

As a part of the ISC initiative, the workers of the Health Department undertook door to door visit of the houses in the villages to sensitize the people about the proper disposal of garbage and maintenance of hygiene.

Pamphlets regarding the importance of cleanliness were distributed in the villages and announcements in this regard were made on the public address system. The drive witnessed active participation of the Gram Panchayats of the villages.  

A similar intensive sanitation campaign will be carried out in a phase wise manner in the remaining 11 villages under the Rural   Development Department during the next two weeks.

AP Flood: State wide sanitation drive from October 20

The Hindu October 07, 2009