Lifebuoy celebrates 8th annual Global Handwashing Day in Matara

23 October 2015 06:50 am Views - 1900

Students of Yatiyana Maha Vidyala demonstrating handwashing technique

In its commitment towards spreading awareness around the world on the importance of health and hygiene, Unilever celebrated Global Handwashing Day 2015 with a special event organised at Yatiyana Maha Vidyala School in Matara. In an attempt to reduce the mortality rate in children under the age of five, Unilever sought to raise awareness amongst school children on proper hand hygiene that could help combat preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.
The Global Handwashing Day is celebrated annually in over 100 countries around the world on October 15, with the objective of reiterating the importance of good hand hygiene habits. In order to mark the day, Unilever organised this event to include activities that were designed to embed a change in handwashing behaviour among the children. Lifebuoy’s brand ambassador, Kumar Sangakkara participated in the event and supported Lifebuoy in the pledge to reach more children on handwashing education.
A demonstration of proper hand washing technique was conducted by a Public Health Inspector which was followed by school acts. Thereafter, Unilever made a pledge to improve hand hygiene facilities in over 200 schools in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the event, Unilever Sri Lanka Marketing Director Personal Care Sharmila Bandara said, “This year celebrates the eighth Global Handwashing Day, and to mark the occasion Lifebuoy hopes that its on-going ‘Help a Child Reach 5’ campaign will assist in ending preventable death of children under the age of five. Every year 1.7 million children die before reaching their fifth birthday as result of contracting diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia that could otherwise be prevented through simple and cost-effective hand hygiene measures such as regularly washing your hands with soap and clean water. Over the years, Unilever has been instrumental in running social responsibility programmes that encourage children to start and sustain hand washing behaviour.”
Unilever is committed to improve hygiene education among children, as research suggests that handwashing with soap at critical times could reduce the risk of diarrhoea up to 45 percent.  In doing so, Unilever hopes to ingrain essential handwashing habits at critical times and aims to create a healthier Sri Lanka.