October 15 is observed as Global Handwashing Day.
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, has started a hashtag #HaathDhonaRokeyCorona to support the occasion of Global Handwashing Day.
Thus, to stress the importance of the day, thousands of people in 75 districts of UP washed their hands simultaneously.
What Is Happening?
The state government officials and employees decided to wash their hands between 10 AM and 12 noon while following proper social distancing measures and wearing masks to send a message on how to maintain proper hand hygiene, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.
The practice will also take place in government hospitals, Anganwadi, Panchayati Raj and other state departments.
Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), information and Amit Mohan Prasad, ACS, health and family welfare, UP in a press conference said, “COVID-19 pandemic cases are on the wane in the state, yet the public should remain alert.”
They also added, “Handwashing should be made a people’s movement to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.”
A state government official also commented that “Experts have been insisting that washing hands would not only protect a person from SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 but would also help break the viral infection chain.”
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Government Initiatives To Spread Hand Hygiene Awareness
Ever since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the UP government has been constantly trying to push the public to follow proper hygiene.
The social media managers of the UP government are encouraging the public to use the hashtag #HaathDhonaRokeyCorona and post photos and videos of them washing their hands with soap and water.
They can share the videos and photographs to the following email- [email protected] too.
The UP state government officials also announced that the best videos and photographs would be rewarded by the government.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Lucknow, had also conducted an awareness campaign at the occasion of Global Handwashing Day in an urban slum at Mansarovar Yojna, Dubagga, on 14th October 2020. The significance of hand hygiene and proper handwashing techniques were demonstrated to the slum residents.
Situation Of Handwashing In India
According to the 76th round report (2019) of the National Sample Survey (NSS), only 25.3 per cent of families in rural areas and 56 per cent in urban India wash hands with soap before having a meal. Interesting, 2.7 per cent of rural homes wash hands with ash, mud, or sand before meals.
70 per cent of the rural population wash hands with water, without even soap or detergent, before eating, while in urban areas, 42 per cent of people do this.
Making people aware of the importance of washing hands with soap to prevent COVID-19 spread is a very difficult task in India.
In total, only 35.8 per cent of houses in India wash their hands with soap or detergent before a meal, while 60 per cent of houses wash hands only with water.
Global Handwashing Day is celebrated to raise knowledge, awareness and understanding about the significance of washing your hands with soap or detergent with proper techniques.
Hand washing is one of the most effective and affordable means of disease prevention.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made the world realise the value of personal hygiene. Washing hands is the simplest way to prevent the spread of diseases.
Image Sources: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, One India, DNA India
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This post is tagged under: Global Handwashing Day, October 15, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, #HaathDhonaRokeyCorona, state government officials, social distancing, masks, hand hygiene, hospitals, Anganwadi, Panchayati raj, Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Amit Mohan Prasad, health and family welfare, COVID-19, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Mansarovar Yojna, Dubagga, National Sample Survey (NSS), personal hygiene
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