Global Handwashing Day celebrated in Wentworth

THE Wentworth Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forum celebrated Global Handwashing Day on Wednesday, 15 October with the national and KZN health departments, Unicef and local preschool pupils.

The Austerville community centre was packed with singing pupils, volunteers, ECD members and official personnel as the importance of hygiene and the success of hygiene programmes in Wentworth was discussed.

“It is so important for these young children to learn how to wash their hands properly to stay healthy,” said Lenore Spies from the KZN Department of Health.

The attendees were treated to fun activities, food and speeches as they learned the importance of washing with soap and the children shouted in delight as beloved book characters showed up to entertain them.

The purpose of the global observance day is to teach people the correlation between washing hands and health. The Wentworth ECD, which has been teaching this to children, has seen a marked improvement in the health of these pupils. These children, in turn are bringing the conversation to their parents and community, ensuring an improvement in the health of Wentworth as a whole.