Belmonte leads ‘Handwashing Day’ activities

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday led the Global Handwashing Day celebration at the Aguinaldo Elementary School in Cubao.

Belmonte, together with Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag and other local government officials, participated in the activities aimed at promoting the importance of proper handwashing, especially among children.

Also present during the event were city health officer Antonietta Inumerable and Councilors Aly Medalla, Jessica Daza and Allan Reyes.

The vice mayor said teaching students how to properly wash their hands can help in achieving the millennium development goal of preventing the spread of illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea.

“Our thrust is prevention rather than cure because the cost of hospitalization is really high,” she said.

Belmonte said the local council has approved a measure seeking the mandatory teaching of proper hand washing techniques in all Quezon City schools.

Inumerable, meanwhile, said they intend to push for the mandatory incorporation of handwashing facilities in all food establishments in the city.

During the program, Tayag taught the students how to properly wash their hands to prevent the spread of diseases. He also led a performance to encourage everyone to observe the proper technique to ensure cleanliness when hand washing.

Belmonte said they are currently coordinating with the DOH for the conduct of similar programs in various communities to teach those who are not in schools of proper hand washing techniques.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education awarded the Quezon City government with a plaque of recognition for institutionalizing the Essential Health Care Program (EHCP), which highlights the importance of improving the personal hygiene habits of children enrolled in public schools.