Global Handwashing Day, celebrated every year on October 15th, is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. A recent study in Bangladesh that directly observed handwashing behavior found that frequency of handwashing with soap after defecation was only around 19%.
Sisimpur has collaborated with SPRING/Bangladesh to prepare a live action segment on tippy taps with adolescent children as protagonists to promote hand washing.
Sahoura asks her neighbor, Mariama, why her children are less healthy than Mariama’s, even though Sahoura practices the 1000 days behaviors. Mariama explains that it is important for everyone to wash their hands with soap at critical times during the day to prevent infections. She takes Sahoura to see their water station for the household. He explains the proper method of handwashing at their Tippy Tap, and then Mariama shows how to wash the hands of her young child.
SPRING developed and produced a Kyrgyz-language booklet for mothers entitled “Nutrition & Development of Children Under Two Years of Age,” in coordination with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The booklet is 12 pages and describes, in simple terms, appropriate nutritional practices for children of different ages (i.e.
SPRING/Bangladesh is committed to advocating the importance of handwashing. As a central component of its work, SPRING works hand in hand with the Government of Bangladesh and with rural communities to ensure that handwashing is prioritized, that its importance vis-à-vis nutrition is underscored and emphasized, and that families understand its importance in early childhood development.
WASHplus (August 2014)