The Ministry of Health launches a public communications campaign to encourage people to wash their hands regularly with soap. (Source: www.cdc.gov)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) on May 15 launched a public communications campaign in order to encourage people to wash their hands more frequently as a way of minimising risk of catching diseases.
Speaking before 300 delegates and nearly 2,500 students and teachers at the ceremony in Hanoi, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said washing hands frequently with soap is an effective, simple and cheap hygienic measure.
A MoH research showed the rate of malnutrition at children aged under five could be cut from 1 to 10 percent if mothers wash their hands regularly.
The minister also called all sectors, governments at all levels, organisations, agencies, social-political organisations and the mass media to coordinate with the MoH to step up public communications efforts to bring the message of “Washing hands with soap regularly” to people from all corners of the country.
The campaign will come to provinces and cities via activities at communities, schools and the mass media.
A competition is also opened on the campaign’s fanpage www.facebook.com/10trieubantaysach to promote the practice to people from more walks of life.
The Unilever Vietnam Fund also responded to the campaign with “Fighting diseases seasonally” programme at 22 provinces and cities nationwide.
According to the latest survey carried out by the MoH, only 23 percent of respondents said they wash their hands before meals and 36 percent wash their hands after going to toilet.-VNA
