Haiti: International Handwashing Day / 15 October

Don't forget to wash your hands - with water and soap!

This poster shows children step by step how to wash their hands with water and soap.

What do you have to do after having used the toilet? Or before eating? Wash your hands with water and soap! - Every child and every adult should know. The international handwashing day offers a possiblity to remind younger and older ones - worldwide.

With regard to the global handwashing day on 15 October, Malteser International staff in Haiti together with members of the local water committees during the whole week have been distributing hygiene kits to nine schools in Janjan, Fayette, La  Colline, Capiti and Dumé and Darbonne. Around 1,720 children and youths are reached by the distribution. Malteser International staff also set up handwashing points, rubbish bins as well as distributes water.

These one time activities are accompanied by regular hygiene education. Staff of mobile clinics, hygiene promotors and community facilitators are working towards the goal of improved hygiene and sanitation in Haiti. A new handwashing poster in Creole showing the children step by step how to wash their hands with water and soap is part of this education.

According to Daniel Raymond, Malteser International WASH Officer in Haiti, continuous hygiene promotion is necessary to take precautions against Cholera and other epidemic diseases. And he concludes: "In addition, proper sanitation and hygiene allows for a good place to live and protects the environment."

Water is life, sanitation is dignity. The most serious health problems in disaster situations are caused by poor hygiene due to insufficient water and by the consumption of contaminated water.

Recognising the strong link between health, water, sanitation and hygiene, demonstrated by numerous waterborne diseases, Malteser International’s specific work within this sector covers water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion not only in Haiti but also in numerous other countries worldwide.