The Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) has launched a pilot hand washing program for local schools to raise awareness to improve health and hygiene standards in the communities.
The awareness which uses soap as a key approach to disease prevention is targeted toward school-aged children who are the most vulnerable to disease outbreaks in the communities.
PJV’s Community Development Section (CDS) under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department facilitated the first hand washing program at the Kairik Primary and Porgera Station Elementary Schools on 26 and 27 October.
PJV’s hand wash program is a partnership between Community Development and the Hygiene unit of the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Department to deliver key messages on hand washing to young children.
Community Development Manager Jacqueline Nen told students of Kairik Primary School that washing of hands is one of the most simple but very important things that children can do to prevent sickness as health service delivery in the district was currently ineffective.
“ PJV wants to ensure if does its bit to eliminate the risk of a disease outbreak…and all you children must take these messages and put into practice”, she said.
The launch of the pilot program also marked Global Hand Washing Day which was officially observed on 15 October this year as a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives
CDS also partnered with KK Kingston Ltd – a major supplier of cleaning chemicals to the Porgera gold mine to launch the hand wash program for Porgera schools.
PJV purchased 400 show bags from KK Kingston Ltd containing a variety of personal hygiene and cleaning products which were distributed to students of both schools.
To support the hand washing program, CDS has also engaged ten (10) education awareness volunteers to build their training capacity to ensure the sustainability of the program.