Unilever Ghana has handed over a 50,000-Ghana cedi Life Buoy Hygiene Station to management of Tema Manhean Presbyterian Cluster of Schools at an impressive ceremony at Tema Newtown.

The facility, comprising eight washrooms and six hand-washing units for both teachers and pupils, was the first phase of Unilever’s Community Investment Projects aimed at inculcating the habit of regular hand-washing with soap in school children.

Ms. Maidie Arkutu, Brand Building Director of Unilever Ghana who handed over the facility, quoted a UNICEF Factsheet Report of May 2010 as saying that 2.2 million deaths of children could be prevented through improvement in the provision of safe drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene practices.

Ms. Arkutu said sanitation research has shown that human hands are the principal carriers of disease-causing germs.

The Brand Building Director said by making the washing of hand with soap before eating and after visiting the toilet a regular daily practice, more lives could be saved than any single vaccine or medical intervention.

Mrs. Patience Arthur-Badoo, General Manager of Presby Schools who received the facility on behalf of the school management, thanked Unilever for the kind gesture.

Mrs. Arthur-Badoo said the authorities of the school would ensure proper hand-washing by the pupils to prevent the spread of diseases.

She urged the school children to undertake peer-tutoring so that by learning from one another they may not only change their attitudes and adhere to good hygiene practices, but would also develop sound bodies with sound minds to learn.

The General Manager of Presby Schools appealed to the authorities of the schools to ensure proper maintenance of the station to prolong its lifespan.