Optimal Change Partnership, an NGO, has signaled its readiness to lead the national campaign to aid school children stick to the habit of proper handwashing to prevent infections.

Mr. Cyril Adajawah, the Operations Manager of the NGO, said the health benefits of the simple and cheap activity were enormous – avert the spread of diseases.

He was speaking at a durbar held at Ahwerewa in the Sekyere East District for school children, teachers and parents to expose them to the proper way of washing their hands.

The programme was jointly organized by the NGO and the Ghana Education Service (GES) with support from World Vision Ghana and it coincided with the celebration of the global handwashing day.
“Our hands, our future”, was the theme chosen for the event.

Mr. Adajawah advised the people to do away with the wrong and unhealthy practice of washing their hands only after they had had their meal.

He said the campaign was targeting school children because they could serve as agents of change – influence their colleagues, family and community to do the right thing.

Ms. Mary Boatemaa Marfo, the District Chief Executive (DCE), urged parents to do more to help their children to take to the practice of regular, thorough handwashing any time they visited the washroom and before eating.

She said it was in everybody’s interest to do this to save themselves from cholera, diarrhea and other infections.

Mr. Joseph Kwogyenga, World Vision, Ghana Sekyere East Cluster Manager, said diseases could be significantly be reduced if people maintained good hygiene and basic standards of cleanliness.

Money spent on visits to the hospital could be saved for other things, if serious attention was paid to proper handwashing and other healthy practices, he added.