15 October 2015 - Aiming to increase awareness of the importance of washing hands with soap, health partners today held an event at the UNMISS protection-of-civilians site in the Unity State capital Bentiu to observe Global Handwashing Day.
Hundreds of people gathered to participate in activities conducted by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) agencies including Concern Worldwide, Mercy Corps, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF.
Under the theme, “Raise Clean Hands to Push Cholera out of South Sudan”, the agencies called on the people to promote hygiene as the only mean to prevent diseases including cholera.
IOM WASH Officer Sharman Mutengu explained that practicing handwashing would curb diseases such as cholera, Hepatitis E and other hygiene-related diseases.
Noting that cholera is a major epidemic causing death of people because of improper hygiene practices, Mr. Mutengu added that the cheapest way to prevent was through washing hands with ash or soap.
“As we heard today, if we don’t wash our hands, our children will be affected by cholera,” said Maria Nyaruai Gatpat, a participant at the event. “We don’t want this to happen to our children.”
She stressed that one of the lessons learned was that it is very important for mothers to wash their hands properly because they are the people taking care of children.