Department of Health, Department of Water and Sanitation, Unilever and Lifebouy had a Global Handwashing Day celebration yesterday October 15, at Faranani Primary School in Protea Glen.
The event was to help with reducing diseases and promote health and hygiene.
Aneliswa Cele from the department of health said that millions of children die from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.
This hampers children’s health and life expectancy.
In South Africa, maternal, paternal and child mortality remains a concern as nearly 700 000 babies die in the first 28 days of life.
“Diarrhoea accounts for 3, 1% of deaths and is rated the 8th largest cause of death.
“It is also rated the third leading cause of death in children under five,” said Cele.
Statistics reveal that 34828 under five diarrhoea admissions were reported in 2011, with 1846 deaths reported.
In 2012 alone, there were 1415 deaths reported out of the 34206 diarrhoeal diseases.
Children who are affected with diarrhoea are said to be immune to other diseases such as respiratory diseases, malnutrition and others which are preventable.
“Many of these deaths are preventable hence we must do something about this as a society.
“We can start by improving hygiene, practically good hygiene practices have been highlighted around world studies as a key intervention to prevent the onset of diarrhoea.
“Washing hands with soap alone has shown the greatest reduction in diarrhoea by over 40% and prevents between 30 to 47% of childhood diarrhoea and respiratory infection,” said Cele.
Cele said handwashing must be promoted as a key and priority hygiene programme aimed at making impact and achieving behavioural change.
All stakeholders who launched the handwashing campaign said that the aim behind all this is to reduce diseases caused by lack of hygiene and #HelpAChildReach5.
The department of health encourages all communities to wash hands using soap in order to help reach the goal of protecting the public in terms of minor diseases that can be prevented by merely washing hands.
“Handwashing is a simple action, but one that can make a huge difference,” said Dudu Khoza of Ukhozi FM who was the programme director.
After a successful handwashing campaign, October was declared as Handwashing Month by the minister of health, Ellias Motsoaledi.
