NATIONAL Handwashing Day was launched today by Fiji’s Ministry of Health with students of Vuci Primary School in a bid to promote healthy living.
The day is a campaign to motivate and mobilise people around the world to improve their handwashing habits.
According to a Fijian Government Facebook post, Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar launched the day (globally celebrated on Monday October 15) with activities organized by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to promote healthy living.
Speaking to students, Ms Akbar highlighted the need for students too practice handwashing at all times because this prevents all individuals from contracting diseases and saves lives too.
“Hand washing with soap is practiced regularly at key times, after using the toilet, before you prepare and eat food, after visiting the toilet, after being outside in the garden or handling rubbish and animals,” she said.
“It can dramatically reduce the risk of diarrhea and pneumonia, which are serious life-threatening illnesses that leads to death.”
Ms Akbar added that hand washing with soap also helps prevented the spread of common infections such as influenza and trachoma.
With the theme ‘CLEAN HANDS – A RECIPE FOR HEALTH’, Ms Akbar is adamant that Fijians will adhere to this health advice to ensure a healthy Fiji for all Fijians.
