BISHNUPUR, October 16: The World Hand-washing Day was observed today at the Bishnupur Public School.
The day was organised as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission by the District Water and Sanitation Committee Bishnupur District and Social Educational Health and Cultural Development Organisation (SEHCDO) Bishnupur.
It was attended by executive engineer, PHED Bishnupur and member secretary, DWSC sub-division, O Meino as chief guest, AE Moirang Sub-Division, L Gokulchandra as president and retired CMO, Bishnupur, Dr. Kh Modhumangol, SO PHE Bishnupur, S Deben, assistant engineer, K
Bishwarjit and assistant engineer Alexander as guests of honour.
Dr Modhumangol said that food items distributed during functions are given out by dirty hands which is not safe and becomes a factor of spreading communicable diseases such as water borne diseases.
People need to be aware and reform this practice, he said.
Meino also said that sanitary latrine is very necessary as open reservoir latrine used till a few years back can cause diseases, especially during the rainy season when the impurities from the latrine such as waste products or germs come in contact with water which will become contaminated.
Demonstration of complete hand wash was also shown a part of the programme.
The day was also held at Phubala High School organised by the same organisers. Students of the school and members of the organisation participated in the programme.
Meanwhile, the National Sanitation Campaign was also held at Keipha Keithel Thamnapokpi by the Village Water and Sanitation Committee Thamnapokpi today.
CHANDEL: The District Water & Sanitation Committee, Chandel District in association with the All Private Schools Welfare Association, Chandel also observed the World Hand-washing Day as part of the National Sanitation Campaign under Swachh Bharat Mission at different schools located in the district today.
During the observation, students were given awareness on the importance of hand washing and the eight steps of proper hand-wash was demonstrated to the 9942 students of 21 schools located in the district of which 10 schools were from Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency and 11 schools from Chandel Assembly Constituency.
Speaking on the sideline of the observation, Jameson Bungdon, district coordinator who is also a section officer, Chandel PHE Division said that the government of India took up the National Sanitation Campaign under Swachh Bharat Mission in accordance with the vision of Mahatma Gandhiji`™s `Developed, Neat and a Clean Country` and the World Hand Wash Day was observed as a part of the National Sanitation Campaign for proving mass awareness of cleanliness, said Jameson.
The district coordinator further said that the easiest and most important steps of maintaining cleanliness is to wash hands properly as people use the same hands in doing different activities in daily life.
So, it becomes the most efficient carrier of germ which causes different ailments to the health, he said.
More than 3000 peoples die every day due to drinking unsafe water and eating without properly washing their hands, therefore, it is very important to know that washing hands in proper ways can prevent diseases, said the district coordinator.
Moreover, essay writing competition on the topic of `Safe water and improved sanitation in school` was organised at the St Joseph`™s Higher Secondary School, Kuraopokpi and a painting competition at Oriental Academy, Japhou in connection with the observation.
Later on, a street play was also staged at Japhou Market shed in Chandel District Headquarters by the Nokphade Theater Artistes to create awareness about safe drinking water and Sanitation.
UKHRUL, October 16: As part of the world-wide observance, Ukhrul district came up with a way to promote cleanliness and hygiene with health expert and concerned department giving basic demonstrations of cleaning hands in connection with the observance of the Global Hand-washing Day 2014 held at Ukhrul Higher Secondary School, Wino bazaar on Thursday.
Held under the theme, `Clean Hands Save Lives`™ the program was organized by the Ukhrul District Working Journalists Association (UDWJA) and sponsored by PHED Ukhrul division. The function was graced by Ukhrul DC Hrisheekesh Modak as chief guest, while Dr Manik Shaiza, MO Jessami took part as health expert of the day.
Speaking at the occasion, DC Modak called upon the participants especially students to take advantage of the day`™s observance and reorient themselves to healthier lifestyle by making regular handwashing a habit.
Dr Shaiza while asserting that keeping our hands clean does not cost people anything, has said that inculcating the very habit could prevent upto 50 per cent of diseases even without visiting doctors.
Elaborating on the theme, he said the message is loud and clear enough for everyone to understand that regular and frequent washing of hands could actually save millions of lives which are annually lost globally due to various bacteria-born diseases. He also demonstrated to the participants how the basic ways of washing hands using soap should be done.
Meanwhile, EE, Ukhrul PHED A Nikunja Sigh provided a simple and effective demonstration of handwashing to explain the importance of frequent handwashing to ward off myriad diseases. Soaps were also distributed to all participants numbering over 300 during the program.
Sr lecturer UHSS Mercy Keishing in her exhortation speech lauded the initiative in promoting cleanliness in the district while vote of thanks was toasted by UDWJA president Sothing Shimray.