By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Starr FmStarr FmStarr Fm
  • Home
  • Election Hub
  • General
    GeneralShow More
    NDC thugs incite violence at Ablekuma North rerun – Minority alleges
    July 11, 2025
    Police complicit in Ablekuma North attacks – Minority Caucus claims
    July 11, 2025
    Ablekuma North rerun: Come in peace or face equal force – Osman Ayariga warns
    July 11, 2025
    Ablekuma North rerun: Justice must prevail – GJA president condemns attack on journalists
    July 11, 2025
    Fiifi Kwetey urges calm, says violence against Hawa Koomson is unacceptable
    July 11, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Mayekoo doubles donations to African causes with new matching fund campaign 
    July 10, 2025
    Government inaugurates new NIB board, announces plan to recapitalise bank
    July 9, 2025
    Ghana’s gold now powers cedi stability – President Mahama
    July 8, 2025
    VRA sets the benchmark in African public procurement
    July 8, 2025
    IMF Executive Board approves $370 million disbursement for Ghana
    July 7, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Ablekuma North: NDC makes history after Ewurabena Aubynn wins rerun
    July 11, 2025
    NDC thugs incite violence at Ablekuma North rerun – Minority alleges
    July 11, 2025
    Police complicit in Ablekuma North attacks – Minority Caucus claims
    July 11, 2025
    Ablekuma North Rerun: NDC leads as counting is underway
    July 11, 2025
    NPP’s Amfo Sefa threatens violence ahead of Akwatia by-election
    July 11, 2025
  • Entertainment
    EntertainmentShow More
    Sim Majorley: Korea, Ghana to share cultures through stage production
    July 11, 2025
    I took a pause to gather strength- Kwesi Slay
    July 8, 2025
    Kinaata questions TGMA credibility over ‘Record of the Year’ snub
    July 7, 2025
    Ghana grows movie premiere ignites new thinking among youth in Ashaiman
    July 7, 2025
    “I will feature Sarkodie at the right time” – Kofi Kinaata
    July 6, 2025
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Tottenham secure Mohammed Kudus in high-profile transfer deal
    July 10, 2025
    Ghana, Nigeria share spoils in thrilling opener of 2025 WAFU U20 Boys Cup
    July 10, 2025
    Otumfuo rallies mining sector to support revamp of Ashanti sports facilities
    July 10, 2025
    Liverpool’s Ambitious Summer: Chairman Predicts Big Moves as Champions Build a Stronger Squad
    July 10, 2025
    Kofi Adams undertakes inspection of Baba Yara Stadium
    July 9, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7: A pocket-sized AI powerhouse with a new edge-to-edge flexwindow
    July 10, 2025
    Real Quantum Dot Technology in Samsung QLED TVs
    June 29, 2025
    GCAA and South Korea sign deal to advance Ghana’s Drone sector
    June 25, 2025
    Onafriq, PAPSS partner to launch cross-border payment services in Ghana 
    June 20, 2025
    Yellow Card, Visa partner to accelerate stablecoin adoption across emerging economies
    June 19, 2025
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    47th AU Forum: Ablakwa criticizes $1.2m AfCFTA allocation as ‘highly insufficient’
    July 10, 2025
    Minority demands audit over $1.2m passport relaunch cost and delays
    July 9, 2025
    Minority demands compensation for citizens stranded by US embassy closure
    July 9, 2025
    Foreign Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa and Chinese Ambassador Tong Defa sign $30 million grant agreement for Aflao market
    Ghana secures $30 million Chinese grant for Aflao market project
    July 9, 2025
    The end of USAID is not catastrophic for Africa – Dr. Brian Reuben
    July 8, 2025
  • Factometer
Search
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Beyond Global Handwashing Day, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) calls for action for Hand Hygiene
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Starr FmStarr Fm
Font ResizerAa
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Search
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Africa

Beyond Global Handwashing Day, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) calls for action for Hand Hygiene

Starrfm.com.gh By Starrfm.com.gh Published October 20, 2023
Share
SHARE

UNICEF joins the world to emphasize handwashing with soap as a simple, effective, and cost-efficient means to prevent diseases and save lives, beyond Global Handwashing Day.

This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme, “Clean Hands are Within Reach,” underlines the need to address hand hygiene on a systemic level. While significant progress has been made, there is a growing call to redouble efforts in order to meet global targets. This effort goes beyond promoting individual handwashing behaviors; it calls for creating an environment that fosters the expansion of hand hygiene practices within local systems.

Global Handwashing Day stands as a global advocacy day, inspiring and mobilizing millions worldwide to embrace the habit of washing their hands with soap – a practice that can easily prevent diseases and save lives.

Recent global estimates reveal that approximately three billion people, or 40% of the world’s population, lack access to proper handwashing facilities with soap and water in their homes. Alarmingly, seven out of ten schools in the least developed countries do not have these facilities for children.

In Sierra Leone, the WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping of 2022 assessed the availability of hygiene services in households, particularly the presence of handwashing facilities with soap and water. The results showed that only 11.6% of households nationwide have access to basic hygiene services, with a slight disparity between urban (16.0%) and rural (9.5%) areas. Approximately 13.5% of households have limited access to such services.

Despite a high awareness rate (92.5%) of the critical times for handwashing, this knowledge often does not translate into practice. A mere 9.6% of household heads were able to demonstrate proper handwashing techniques. It is clear that households understand the importance of handwashing before eating (89.4%) and after using the toilet (94.7%), but only 31.0% consider handwashing after cleaning up a child’s feces or changing a child’s diaper as essential. Additionally, only 53.4% practice handwashing before preparing food.

It is crucial to address the gap between knowledge and practice as this contributes to a high burden of diarrhea. Shockingly, 14.8% of households reported at least one member suffering from diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey, with children under five accounting for 69.7% of cases.

“Handwashing is not merely a routine. It is a lifesaving practice,” says Bioye Ogunjobi, UNICEF WASH Specialist. “Together, by promoting a culture of handwashing, we can create a healthier, safer, and more resilient Sierra Leone for every child.”

To create public awareness of the importance of handwashing efforts have also been made to promote the following:

*             Proper handwashing with soap at critical times

*             Construction and use of improved toilets

*             Provision of WASH facilities in schools, communities, and institutions

*             Safe water storage and utilization at the household level

*             Community participation and empowerment

With support from partners including the Iceland government and FCDO, UNICEF has also facilitated the provision of WASH facilities in schools, health facilities, and communities across Sierra Leone. These facilities help make safe water readily available to over 500,000 people to facilitate handwashing.

UNICEF remains committed to the continued promotion of simple hand hygiene practices to help prevent disease outbreaks like cholera and significantly reduce associated morbidity and mortality rates.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UNICEF Sierra Leone.

You Might Also Like

Global Africa Summit to launch Accra edition July 18

Take a strong stance against atrocities in Togo – Activist to Ghanaian gov’t

47th AU Forum: Ablakwa criticizes $1.2m AfCFTA allocation as ‘highly insufficient’

Investment in TVET will guarantee a prosperous future for Botswana – Haruna to Pres. Duma

The end of USAID is not catastrophic for Africa – Dr. Brian Reuben

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Share
Previous Article Attacks on journos: The media was lukewarm when I warned of NPP vigilantism – Asiedu Nketia
Next Article President Ruto: New Healthcare Plan will Leave no One Behind

Starr 103.5FM

Starr FmStarr Fm
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
newsletter icon
Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest in news, podcasts etc..

[mc4wp_form]
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?