Raise your hands for Global Hand Washing Day, PRIA observed Global Hand Washing Day

Water-related diseases spread fast where hygiene practises are poor. No amount of water taps or toilets alone can prevent it. But it is largely prevented by simply by washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before preparing food or eating; people can avoid life threatening water-related diseases. Hand-washing alone could cut the risk of diarrhoea almost in half, saving hundreds of children's lives every day.

Global Hand Washing Day (GHD) is a campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits by washing their hands with soap at critical moments throughout each day. 15th of October is observed as a Global Hand Washing day every year. The campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of handwashing with soap as a key approach to disease prevention.

Under its current intervention in Chhattisgarh, PRIA is strengthening citizen groups by promoting participatory planning on WASH related issues. The main objective is to promote good habits on hygienic practices among community members. PRIA organised a day long camp in Raipur and Sarguja districts and observed Global Hand Washing Day. These camps were organised at Bus Stand of Raipur, where people seldom wash their hands after using the urinals because of several reasons and in various middle schools of Lakhanpur block of Sarguja district.

Interventions in Raipur district:

• The camp was organised at Bus Stand of Raipur district where people seldom wash their hands after using the urinals because of several reasons. During the camp people were told about the hygiene practices.

• A demonstration was also given to them so that they can understand the importance of hand washing and properly wash their hands after using toilets, urinals and before and after taking their meals.
• Steps related to proper hand washing were also shared during these camps.
• People were very positive towards this, and expressed their views on the feedback sheet that was provided to them.
• In all 199 people participated in this awareness camp.

Interventions in Sarguja district:

• The camp was organised in three schools of Turna, Jaipur & Bailkharikha villages of Lakhanpur block.
• Mr. Ved Prakash Gupta, CEO, Janpad Panchayat, actively participated in this event and spoke on the importance of hand washing to the Children..
• 331 children along with several villagers & school teachers participated in the hand washing event.
• Potable water and Sanitation was another issue of discussion.
• The benefits of building toilets and the ill effects of open defecation were also shared with the people.
• PRIA team along with CEO, Janpad Panchayat monitored the newly built toilet & reviewed the status of open defecation within target communities.

PRIA team also collected participants view on personal hygiene & other related issues on WASH which will be further documented & considered for future learning.  
Individuals who have raised their support realized the need to disseminate learning & information of appropriate hand washing practice in daily life and felt motivated.            
This event received extensive support from district administration & SBM team, School teachers and representatives of Raipur & Sarguja; The Traffic police and the Home guards actively participated and helped us by guiding the traffic and controlling the traffic..   

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