IMPORTANCE OF HAND HYGIENE

CITY TO HOST 'CLEAN HANDS TO SAVE LIFE' CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR WASHING HANDS TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH 

 Navi Mumbai will witness a world record event on June 22 in the presence of celebrities from different spheres of life. The event is on health and hygiene front sensitising people about the correct methodology to clean hands. Over 3000 children from across the town have been trained in medical safety terminology to exhibit various steps of washing hands simultaneously in a run up to set a new world record. 

    Children will be attempting to create a new Guinness World Record, as the highest number of students cleaning their hands at the same time, breaking the old record of 2500 students. This is the brainchild of Fortis Foundation which is jointly hosting the campaign with Navi Mumbai District Lions International, Navi Mumbai Association of Paediatrics and Indian Association of Occupational Health, Thane and Raigad branch. The campaign was launched on June 12 to create awareness among the masses towards the community programme 'Clean hands to save life' that endeavours at highlighting the need and importance of hand hygiene in maintaining good health. 
    Fortis Healthcare, zonal director, Manpreet Sohal said, "Clean Hands To Save Life' campaign is a community initiative of immense social impact. Partnering with likeminded social organizations gives the campaign better reach." 
    According to India's Public Health Association's statistics only 30 percent of Indian population wash their hands before preparing food, 38 percent wash their hands before eating and just over 53 percent of the country's population wash their hands after defecating. Proper hand hygiene practice can keep deadly diseases like typhoid, diarrhoea and hepatitis-A at bay. Children being more susceptible to these diseases should know the importance of hand hygiene. 
    The 'Clean Hands To Save Life' campaign is an attempt to create a platform to tutor, students, teachers and the community as a whole. The three-phase campaign includes: drives to train teachers and school kids and corporate employees along with a public campaign which was kick-started in its first phase from June 13. Public contact programmes was held in the meantime at various railway stations on June 14 and 15. The awareness drive in various schools across Navi Mumbai was conducted from June 18 to 21. 
    The second phase of the Clean Hands To Save Life campaign will focus on making a lasting impact of the campaign on the parents and the kids by making an attempt to set a Guinness World Record. The grand record breaking event will be held at Centre One, Vashi on June 22 at noon. The third phase of the Clean Hands To Save Life campaign, will aim to sustain the campaign in each school with 25 sessions from July 2012 to March 2013. Seven brand ambassadors selected from across the school and social spectrum will be the mainstay of the campaign.