Over 100 children under the Special Olympics PNG unified football program participated in a hand washing activity today in Port Moresby to commemorate Global Handwashing Day (GHD).
GHD is celebrated on October 15 every year however, SOPNG chose to have the kids commemorate the Day during its unified football finals today.
The Day is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times.
It is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.
Today’s activity was hosted by Water Aid.
Water Aid ambassador and national netball representative, Lua Rikis was present and educated the kids on the importance of handwashing.
This year’s theme is “Make Handwashing a Habit”.
Rikis and her team demonstrated the proper way to wash hands and educated the kids on when they need to wash their hands.
Rikis said research has shown that one out of nine children under the age of five die from diarrheal diseases and it was important to teach children, especially the younger ones about the importance of handwashing.
Picture by Kennedy Bani