PZ Cussons launches Carex essay writing competition

PZ Cussons on Thursday launched the Carex Essay Writing Competition in Accra aimed at helping kids to write about the hand washing activities they engaged in daily.

The maiden edition of the competition dubbed: "Why l Wash My Hands Regularly," is also for the students to learn the skills of building an argument to convince people on the need to wash their hands regularly.

Mr Gazie Decter, Head of Brand Development and Activation, PZ Cussons, speaking at the event to mark the Global Hand Washing Day, said the Carex brand for the past four years had engaged school children in hand washing activities through school activation programme.

The Global Hand Washing Day is a campaign to motivate and mobilise millions around the world to wash their hands with soap and to raise awareness of hand washing as a key approach to disease prevention.

He said 10 ultimate winners stood the chance of becoming Carex brand ambassadors of their schools and enjoy other give-aways.

"The first prize winner will receive GH¢1,000.00, GH¢600.00 for the second place winner and GH¢300.00 for the third place winner in addition to one-year supply of Carex products," he said.

He said every year PZ Cussons celebrated the day with a number of schools across the country, indicating that this year the hand washing event was being held in over 70 schools.

He said the company decided to celebrate the day with students of Saint Bernadette Soubirous School, Dansoman.

Mr Decter said the competition was opened to students within the ages of nine to 15 years, urging heads of schools, teachers and parents to encourage their children to participate in the competition.

He said there were other follow-up activities that were planned to ensure that the hand washing behaviours were being imbibed in the school children, which the company hoped could influence other children.

Dr Frank Serebour, General Secretary, Ghana Medical Association, engaged the school children in the hand washing steps, its importance and benefits of washing hands with soap under clean running water.

He urged the school children to cultivate the habit of hand washing to prevent diseases and promote good hygiene in schools and at homes.

On sanitation issues in the country, he said the country had nice bye-laws but their enforcement was the challenge.

Four students were selected to be Carex brand ambassadors with the responsibility of educating their fellow students to wash their hands regularly with soap and clean running water.