Women in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WiWASH) group of the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre (RWESCK) with the Community Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (CWESA) has observed the 2021 Global Handwashing Day with a community outreach at the Kwaso M/A Jinior High School (JHS) on Friday, 15th October 2021.
The purpose of the event, which had the theme "Our Future is at Hand - Let's Move Forward Together," was to increase awareness and better understand the need for hand hygiene by demonstrating proper handwashing techniques.
WiWASH, which is made up of former and current centre students, educates and mentors women to become leaders in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sector. They are also interested in cleanliness, teaching and sensitisation in the community.
RWESCK's Group Lead and Industry Liaison Officer, Dr. (Mrs.) Helen Michelle Korkor Essandoh, remarked that some towns are disadvantaged when it comes to resource allocation, thus, the organisation chose to visit peri-urban regions to teach people about cleanliness. This, she believes, is the way to go.
Dr. (Mrs.) Essandoh, demonstrated and explained the eight (8) steps of the hand washing process to the gathering. She advised the students to wash their hands after exercising, visiting washrooms and public places, playing with their pets as well as before and after eating.
Professor Mrs. Esi Awuah, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and the event's chairperson, defined hygiene as the act of safeguarding oneself and others from diseases caused by waste. She stated that there are millions of living germs that might cause diseases and recommended the students to practice excellent hygiene. She also took students through hygiene and how to ensure good hygiene practices. The environmental health and sanitation expert also called for the provision of clean water and toilet facilities in all schools in Ghana.
WiWASH donated packs of drinks, biscuit, washing powder and soap, tissue papers to Kwaso M/A JHS.
