Kuntanase (Ash), Jan.31, GNA - Forty-four districts have been selected through out the country to operate the "Clean Hands, Healthy Life" initiative on pilot basis this year while the remaining sixty-six districts will join the programme next year.
The initiative was aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality among children less than five years through an integrated communication campaign of promoting hand washing with soap to prevent diarrhoea. Madam Janet Gyamfua-Amonoo, Focal Person for Hand Washing With Soap for the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district said these at the inauguration of the district's initiative at Kuntanase on Friday She said the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would implement the initiative with funding from the Ghana government, UNICEF, World Health Organisation, World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency and the Department For International Development.
She said although the programme sought to reach the entire population it will target pupils in the primary and junior secondary schools, women and children less than five years.
Madam Gyamfua-Amonoo noted that, the practice of hand washing with soap in the country was very low across all ages and gender.
She said a research carried out by the International Research Centre, a non-governmental organisation based in Accra in 2002, revealed a huge gap between knowledge and practice as it was found that only 31 percent of women in households washed their hands with soap after cleaning their children who had defecated.
Madam Gyamfua-Amonoo said the research also showed that only 20 percent Of school children washed their hands after attending nature's call, while small number washed their hands with soap. Mr Daniel Ava, the District Co-ordinating Director, said hand washing with soap would contribute to the realization of Ghana's poverty reduction target through the reduction of infant mortality.
