NCR pupils observe pre-Global Handwashing Day

Attendees also included those being supported by the Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation, an organization that gives educational assistance to elementary students from less privileged families. (Photo: Manila Water Foundation/Facebook)

MANILA — Hundreds of school children and their teachers from Metro Manila attended pre-Global Handwashing Day (GHD) event organized by the Manila Water Foundation (MWF) Thursday at the Mind Museum in Taguig City.

Attendees also included those being supported by the Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation, an organization that gives educational assistance to elementary students from less privileged families.

Celebrated every October 15, the GHD aims to promote awareness on the importance of proper handwashing as a measure to prevent diseases and including diarrhea.

Experts say it is also crucial to wash the hands with soap before eating, before handling food, after using the toilet, after handling pets and after playtime.

This way, diseases can be better prevented especially among children.

MWF will lead a series of GHD activities for the whole month of October.

With GHD’s “Our hands, Our Future” theme for this year, the MWF targets to help educate Filipinos on the importance of proper handwashing in maintaining good health.

This is the fifth year that the MWF organizes GHD activities.

“Our focus is on water access, sanitation and hygiene. We do educational campaigns on the proper use of water in handwashing. Studies show millions of school days are lost every year because students were absent due to diarrhea and other diseases transmitted through dirty hands,” explained MWF President Geodino Carpio.

This is why, MWF will go to various schools, malls and communities to promote proper handwashing.

Locations will include Quezon City, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, Market! Market!, Enchanted Kingdom and Aklan.

Also, the MWF has launched a handwashing educational AVP campaign which the public can see in electronic billboards along EDSA until October 31.

MWF also launched an online campaign via its Facebook account.

Meanwhile, aside from learning the proper handwashing, school children and their companions who attended the event at the Mind Museum also participated in other interactive learning activities, experiments and games.