Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - Statistics from the Ministry of Health has revealed that 84,000 people die of diarrhoea related cases each year with 25 percent being children under five years.

Most of the causes of diarrhoea, which could be prevented by proper sanitation and hand washing with soap, are often ignored and taken for granted by the public.

Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of State in-charge of Girl Child and Basic Education, disclosed this at the launch of the national hand washing with soap campaign, the first of the global initiative in Accra. The campaign, which was initiated by the Community Water and Sanitation in collaboration with Unilever Ghana Limited, PZ-Cussons Industries limited, Getrade, World Bank, UNICEF, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, World Health Organisation and the Department for International Development was aimed at ensuring public health and safety.

It has mothers and children in basic schools as the primary target since they are the most vulnerable to diseases especially diarrhoea. Ms Churcher noted that most often, food sold outside are left uncovered in an unhygienic environment with flies hovering around in addition to indiscriminate disposal of faeces and refuse which were also a contributing factor.

"Experts say, one gram of faeces can contain ten million viruses, one million bacteria, one thousand parasites and one hundred worm eggs and these are frightening", she added.

Ms Churcher called for the provision of safe water, hygienic sanitation facilities and proper waste management services to reduce the incidence of contamination.

She charged chiefs and community leaders to ensure and encourage their communities to make washing of hands with soap a habit not only after eating but before and as many times as they could.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Minister of Works and Housing, in a speech read for him, said with the initiative, the health benefits of providing portable water and sanitation facilities to the rural communities would be fully realised.

Representatives of the partners pledged their continued support to ensure that the aim of the campaign was achieved.