The Government of Lakes State and UNICEF belatedly commemorated Global Handwashing Day at Abin-ajok Primary School in Rumbek Center County on Monday at a function attended by government officials, pupils, and community leaders, among others.
Global Handwashing Day is an annual international campaign celebrated on 15 October to promote handwashing with soap as a simple, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases.
Andrew Marial, the ACROSS team leader in Lakes State, said the day was celebrated belatedly due to logistical challenges.
“Global Handwashing Day is a great day that we use to promote hygiene at the community and individual levels. On this day, we discuss the importance of handwashing because when we wash our hands, we prevent a lot of diseases,” he explained. “We are telling people that the most critical times to wash their hands are after visiting the latrine and before preparing and eating food. People should also wash their hands after cleaning children who have defecated.”
For his part, Abraham Maker Wangkuei, the head boy of Abin-ajok Primary School, said he was delighted to celebrate the day and that he learned the importance of handwashing.
“We received a message that it is important to wash our hands, comb our hair, and cut our fingernails. As a community, we are now aware that we are supposed to clean our bodies and protect our children to avoid diseases,” he said. “However, we face challenges like a lack of clean drinking water here at our school, and we urge the government to support us because our hand pump has broken down.”
“We need a security fence around the school so that pupils do not go out,” Maker added.
Meanwhile, Zechariah Magot Ater, the state’s minister of physical infrastructure, thanked UNICEF and the government departments that organized the event.
“I thank them (organizers) for making this a colorful day in Abin-ajok Primary School.
“I thank all the partners who contributed to this event, and for selecting this school as the host,” he said. “This school has not had water for two years, but now our partners have responded that they will address the issue next week.”
For her part, Tabitha Akon Majok, a resident of Abin-ajok Payam, said she learned the guidelines for washing hands after visiting the toilet, before making food, and before eating to avoid diseases.
” Global Handwashing Day is a very important day because it is used to educate people on how and when to wash their hands,” she said. “We do not have safe drinking water, and children have to walk long distances to fetch drinking water. We have been asking the government for help, but nothing has been done.”