Protex celebrates the 5th Global Hand washing day in Embu County

By Eric Akasa

Hand washing with soap is the “Do-It-Yourself vaccine” that prevents infections like diarrhea and pneumonia; the main infections that prevent children from reaching their 5^th birthday. Studies show that washing hands with soap is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diseases. It can cut deaths from diarrhea by almost half and from acute respiratory infections by a quarter. On October 15, we celebrate the fifth annual Global Hand washing Day. But hand washing with soap is not an event – it is an essential behavior to help children and families survive and thrive.

Through the Call to Action and A Promise Renewed, host country governments and partners are prioritizing the strategic investments and most effective strategies to accelerate progress in child survival, including scaling up coverage, addressing the social determinants of health, removing barriers to access, and increasing the demand for essential health services through cost-effective investments and technical innovation.

Protex is a key player in the personal care segment as demonstrated by the ‘Gimme Five Campaign’ especially in realization that Health and Sanitation is of great concern for the nation. It is in this regard that the company has partnered with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to visit and educate a target of 1500 children about hand washing in the fast growing Embu County.

During the hand washing exercise held at Embu County Primary School, Colgate Palmolive’s decision to focus on the county was informed by the initiative that area government ministries in conjunction with schools have taken to adopt methods of promoting good sanitation; such as leaking tins outside their classrooms to ensure that the children wash their hands, especially after critical times.

Global Hand washing Day (GHWD) is an annual event that is celebrated on 15^th October by millions of children in different parts of the world with a mission to improve the levels of awareness in children. Through the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation that has taken the lead in organizing this day in partnership with key players like Colgate Palmolive, the campaign will help increase awareness on the importance of hand washing to children along with proper hand washing techniques.

Our message today is in line with this year’s GHWD theme that is to ‘Help More Children Reach their 5^th Birthday’. Through this exercise we aim to foster a culture of washing hands with soap and water while identifying its benefits which will in turn shine a spotlight on the state of hand washing in this country. It is with these three messages; we as Colgate Palmolive wish to improve the health of children so that they can live longer, better lives.