Schools in Tamboril celebrate Global Hand Washing Day

Schools in Tamboril celebrate Global Hand Washing Day 
Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic, October 16, 2012

The Ministry of Education (MINERD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO), the Ministry of Public Health, and Caritas Dominican Republic, celebrated the Global Hand Washing Day in this municipality, which islocated in the Santiago de los Caballerosprovince.

“We understand that Dominican schools offer an ideal setting to raise awareness among the students on the need to wash their hands with soap so that they can preserve their health and hygiene,” she said.

The participating institutions joined efforts to raise awareness about the importance of hand washing as an effective and affordable means to preventing deadly diseases such as diarrhea, cholera and acute respiratory infections.

The ceremony took place in the María Petronila Rodríguez School, located in the Canca la PiedraMunicipal District. The following personalities attended the event: the Ministers of Education, Josefina Pimentel;the Minister of Public Health, Freddy Hidalgo Núñez; and representatives of UNICEF, PAHO / WHO, Caritas Dominican Republic, and Unilever.

In her speech, the Minister of Education said that the event is very important for the education sector, as it is vital to raise awareness on the importance of hand washing as an effective, simple and practical method to prevent infectious and communicable diseases.

“We understand that Dominican schools offer an ideal setting to raise awareness among the students on the need to wash their hands with soap so that they can preserve their health and hygiene,” she said.

She statedthat MINERD will continue to support these types of events, as they help to strengthen the health of children and adolescents within the education system and to improve sanitation within the entire community.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Lorenzo Hidalgo, made a called tothe Dominican population and the world to wash their hands before eating, after using the toilet and before handling food, to prevent more than 40 percent of theacute diarrheal illnessesthat occur.

PAHO / WHOrepresentative in the Dominican Republic, Lillian Reneau Vernon,said that the event focuses on childhood because it is the segment of the population which is most vulnerable, but also because children are more open to new ideas and may become agentsof change. She explained that poor hygiene and the lack of access to basic sanitation are contributing factorsin about 80 percent of the deaths resulting from diarrheal illnesses, which amount to millions per year in children under five.

Meanwhile, UNICEF representative Maria Jesús Conde, said that the goal is to promote the culture of hand washing with water and soap around the world and to raise awareness about sanitation in the Dominican Republic.

More than 3.5 million children under five die worldwide from diseases related to diarrhea, cholera and pneumonia. The simple act of washing one’s hands with soap can significantly reduce this figure, according to UNICEF.

During the event the following persons also offered remarks: Unilever representative, Isis Báez; school Director, María Petronila Rodríguez;and Gregory Tineo.Meanwhile, Sergio Cespedes, representing the parents in the community, along with students Arlin Guaba and Greisy Tineo, offered the handwashingdeclaration. The blessing was given by Deacon Jimmy Quezada.

2012 has been a year in which strong epidemiological incidences of outbreaks have occurred in the municipality of Tamboril. Between April and June, more than a thousand cases of cholera were recorded, with recurrences duringthe month of August.

Various events to raise awareness have taken place during the past several weeks, such as workshops, educationalgames and artistic performances, with the objective of showing the importance of hand washing with soap to preventillnesses.

These events involved some 4,000 children from 38 schools, more than 60 volunteers, 100 teachers and 50 members of the Association of Parents and Friends of the Schools in the municipality.

At the end of the ceremony, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Public Health and the other authorities signed the mural of the commitment to raising awareness on hand washing as a means of preventing diseases.

Students who participated in the commemoration of the Global Hand Washing Day, which took place in Tamboril, Santiago, led by example.

The Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel, signing the mural of the commitment to raising awareness on hand washing as a means of preventing diseases