Global Handwashing Day 2012: Safeguard promotes handwashing after playtime

Global Handwashing Day

Today, October 15 marks the 5th year of celebrating Global Handwashing Day in the Philippines with the focus on the idea that "clean hands save lives". 



Global Handwashing Day 2012

Global Handwashing Day aims to educate the public that there are 5 critical times for hand washing  before eating, before handling food, after using the toilet, after handling your pets and after playtime. These are key moments when there is a high risk of transmitting germs from the hands to the mouth.

Global Handwashing Day 2012

GHD @ Sitio Una in Taguig

Stressing on the importance of handwashing with soap, the simple yet lifesaving act can reduce the incidence of diarrhea among children under five by more than 40 percent, and respiratory infections by nearly 25 percent in a country where pneumonia and diarrhea are the 3rd and 4th leading cause of deaths among children under five, respectively.

Safeguard and Global Handwashing Day

Safeguard, in line with its mission to promote proper hygiene and health education among Filipino families, first celebrated Global Handwashing Day in 2008. Five years later, Safeguard continues to lead the celebration of Global Handwashing Day in the Philippines by making it even bigger and better.

Handwashing Stations

Innovative & Cost-Effective Handwashing Stations

Handwashing Stations with Tonipet

On this 5th year, Safeguard encourages handwashing with soap after playtime through donation of 1st sustainable playground with handwashing station. At a media event held in Sitio Una, Taguig, Safeguard proudly unveiled its birthday gift to the community - the first playground.

“Outdoor play is an enjoyable activity for children but it is also important in their development,” explains Mr. Chad Sotelo, Country Marketing Manager for Safeguard. However, based on a recent study, many mothers prevent their children from playing outdoors because they are worried about their children’s safety. Furthermore, 75 percent of children play on the streets while only 3 percent play on a public playground.

Chad Sotelo of P&G

UNICEF

Play Pilipinas

Safeguard also partnered with play experts Play Pilipinas.

“We at Play Pilipinas believe that every child should be given the chance to play, and to play in a safe and sound environment. Our advocacy is to provide low-cost, sustainable, and child-safe playgrounds for Filipino children. We are happy to have a partner in Safeguard that ensures kids will also have immediate access to soap and water after playing,” says Ms. Sigrid Perez, co-founder of Play Pilipinas.

Paul Perez of Play Pilipinas

The Playground

Choosing Sitio Una and Four More

This new playground at Sitio Una, and 4 others to come, will represent not only the past 5 years of Global Handwashing Day, but also Safeguard’s continued commitment to promote proper hygiene and health education for many more years .

Together with partners UNICEF and Fit for School, Procter & Gamble, through Safeguard, has reached over a million children in ten provinces in the country, teaching them the lifesaving habit of handwashing with soap.

Marjorie Pineda Joins Global Handwashing Day

Safeguard invites everyone to join the 5th year of Global Handwashing Day in the Philippines. Join the celebration by tweeting with the hashtag #Happy5thGHD, and of course, washing your hands with soap before the 5 critical times mentioned above. :)