Health Link

by Cecille dela Rosa de Lemos

GP Promotes Handwashing

"Garantisadong Pambata" (GP) is an institutionalized Pre-schoolers Health Campaign nationwide, conducted every 3rd week of April and October of each year. Essential package of health services and health information are delivered all year to six to seventy six (6 – 76) months children nationwide. The DOH campaign on GP (October 12 – 16) coincides with the celebration of the Global Handwashing Day (October 15.). Environmental Sanitation and Personal Hygiene are among the GP interventions.

According to the World Health Organi-zation, diarrhea kills almost two million children all over the world each year. A UNICEF report indicates that more than 5,000 children die every day from diarrhea before they reach their fifth birthday. Diarrhea is the second most common cause of death in children.

Studies show that washing hands with soap reduces deaths from diarrhea by almost 50 percent and deaths from acute respiratory infections by 25 percent. Handwashing with soap is the single most cost-effective health inter-vention to prevent death and disease that are related to diarrhea. It can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention.

Sonia M. David, provincial GP coordinator, said "it is important that hands should be scrubbed with soap for at least 20 seconds. Hands should always be washed with soap after using the toilet, before eating, and before handling food."

According to Ms. David, part of GP’s service delivery activities will be conducted this month such as, vitamin A supplementation, dewor-ming, immunization, and oral health.

The Provincial Government of Aklan and the United States Agency for International Development support Garantisadong Pambata and Global Handwashing Day to improve child survival and have a healthier future for children and families by drawing attention to the importance of washing hands with soap and water. /MP