By Christine Naadu Lartey
Tema, Oct. 16, GNA — The Environmental Health Department of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has marked this year’s Global Handwashing Day with hygiene education and the donation of handwashing supplies to two schools in the metropolis.
The programme, held under the theme, “I am a Handwashing Hero,” brought together community leaders, school officials, health workers, teachers and pupils to promote proper hand washing hygiene and environmental cleanliness.
Mrs Bridget Seyram Diapim-Fenuku, the Tema Metro Environmental Health Director, advised pupils to wash their hands with soap and clean running water to help prevent diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera.
Mrs. Diapim-Fenuku said excellent hygiene practices helped pupils remain healthy, attend school regularly and reduce their parents’ expenditure on medical care.
“When you wash your hands and stay healthy, you save your parents’ money, and you do not miss your classes,” she said.
She also highlighted the role of Environmental Health Officers in maintaining sanitation, cautioning that people who dumped rubbish into gutters, kept their surroundings dirty or engaged in open defecation could face prosecution or fines.
Mrs. Doris Sunu Heartwell, a Senior Environmental Health Assistant, said Global Handwashing Day was established in 2008 to encourage people worldwide to wash their hands with soap.
Mrs. Mavis Nyarko, Assistant Environmental Health Analyst, demonstrated 12 steps for effective handwashing, which she said should take between 40 and 60 seconds.
She urged pupils to wash their hands after using the washroom, returning from public places and changing babies’ nappies, as well as before eating or handling food.
As part of efforts to promote hygiene in schools, TMA presented five handwashing basins, liquid soap and paper towels to Twedaase Junior High School and Akodjo Junior High School.
The headteachers- Mrs/ Rebecca Pobee and Mr. Kodwo Aggrey- expressed gratitude to the assembly and pledged to make the items available for pupils’ use.
The environmental health officers urged the pupils to take proper care of the equipment and avoid damaging the taps or other facilities, stating that they would visit the schools to monitor the use and maintenance of the items.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Christine Naadu Lartey, GNA