Rally in response to Global Handwashing Day with Soap 2024

Attending the rally were Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong; representatives of the People's Committee of Da Nang City; Vietnam Women's Union and nearly 1,000 delegates from the Ministry of Health; ministries, departments, unions, socio-political organizations; international organizations and students in Da Nang City.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong - Deputy Minister of Health delivered the opening speech at the rally.

Speaking at the ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that washing hands with soap is not only a simple daily action but also a powerful shield in preventing infectious diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when done correctly at critical times, and handwashing with soap can reduce the risk of diarrheal and respiratory infections in children by up to 40%.

" Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic show that hand hygiene and hand washing with soap play an important role in disease prevention and control in the community as well as infection prevention and control in medical facilities, " said Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the theme of this year's Global Handwashing Day is "Handwashing with soap - Why is it important?" with the aim of communicating to the general public and the community about the importance of hand washing with soap. At the same time, calling on all levels and sectors to coordinate more to ensure the achievement of hand hygiene goals and to act together to widely spread the habit of regular hand hygiene, anytime, anywhere, contributing to disease prevention and control.

The theme of this year's Global Handwashing Day is "Handwashing with soap – Why it matters".

Through the rally, the Ministry of Health requested ministries, sectors, Women's Union and socio-political organizations, authorities at all levels and press agencies to continue to coordinate with the health sector to promote communication to raise awareness of the benefits and effectiveness of handwashing with soap in disease prevention and control; promote hygiene education and handwashing with soap in schools for students.

In addition, it is necessary to ensure the provision and arrangement of adequate hand washing facilities, clean water, and soap so that everyone has the conditions to practice hand washing regularly; it is necessary to have solutions to ensure adequate supply of clean water for daily life, adapting to climate change conditions and natural disasters such as storms, floods, droughts, and saltwater intrusion.

At the rally, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thi - Vice Chairwoman of Da Nang City People's Committee also called on people in the city, parents, caregivers at schools, and households with young children to voluntarily implement hygiene measures in accordance with the instructions of the health sector.

" From the specific actions of each citizen with the motto: clean food, clean living, clean hands and clean toys, we will join hands with the authorities at all levels and the health sector to push back diseases in general and especially infectious diseases ," Ms. Anh Thi emphasized.

Representatives of the Ministry of Health, Da Nang City People's Committee, Vietnam Women's Union, and sponsors performed the handwashing ritual in response to Global Handwashing Day with Soap in 2024.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union, highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Health, local People's Committees as well as the support of Unilever Vietnam International Company Limited in taking care of the health of the people in general and guiding hygiene practices in particular, with special attention paid to women and children.

With the message "3 clean families - starting with hand washing with soap", the Vietnam Women's Union hopes for the cooperation of all levels, sectors and organizations in promoting communication to raise awareness, change attitudes and skills in hand washing with soap in the community, starting from each family member.

A series of diverse activities in response to Global Handwashing Day include: Organizing a rally with the theme "Handwashing with soap - Why is it important" and organize communication activities such as: Hanging billboards, banners, communication slogans about hand washing with soap to prevent epidemics for a healthy Vietnam; organizing games about hand washing with soap; news, articles, and images about rallies, activities on environmental sanitation, personal hygiene, and disease prevention will be posted on mass media and the Ministry of Health's communication channels.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/mit-tinh-huong-ung-ngay-the-gioi-rua-tay-voi-xa-phong-nam-2024-172241015152951303.htm