Thursday
16 October 2003 - A major initiative that will have
a life-long impact on the nation’s health launches at
the Morekolodi Primary School in Mmakau, near Garankuwa today
(Thursday 16 October 2003) when the Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry (DWAF) joins hands in a partnership with one
of the country’s leading consumer goods manufacturers.
Launched by Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ronnie
Kasrils and Unilever South Africa’s Chief Executive
Officer Doug Baillie, the schools initiative for the South
African WASH Campaign promotes the simple act of washing hands
with soap as a means to saving lives.
“While access to safe water and adequate sanitation
have important health benefits, sound hygiene behaviour, particularly
proper handwashing, is crucial for the prevention of disease,”
said Minister Kasrils “It is known, for example, that
most endemic diarrhoeal diseases are not simply waterborne,
but transmitted because of poor hygiene practices.”
“Promoting handwashing with soap may represent the
most cost effective and cost efficient public health intervention
in the developing world today. It is critical therefore that
the department work together with the private sector to combat
issues that are of paramount importance to the health of South
Africans,” commented the Minister. “The provision
of clean water and adequate sanitation must be provided with
personal hygiene awareness” he stresses.
International research presented at the 2002 World Summit
on Sustainable Development indicated that as many as one million
lives can be saved worldwide by washing hands with water and
soap. This is because proper handwashing reduces the risk
of diarrhoeal disease by up to forty seven percent. The international
WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all) Campaign was
launched in response to the United Nations Water Supply and
Sanitation Collaborative Council’s (WSSCC) global advocacy
to making safe water, sanitation and hygiene a reality for
all people worldwide, and the South African WASH Campaign
launched in 2002.
Unilever’s Doug Baillie says the company’s involvement
with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry South African
schools programme offers an ideal opportunity to make a real
difference to the communities in which the company operates.
“Unilever is not only interested in our consumers,
we are also deeply concerned about the communities in which
they live and we regard this initiative as extremely important
to promoting better health among community members.”
He adds: “We believe in starting with the children,
for it is at this age that new behaviours can be learned,
behaviours which will stand them in good stead for the future.
Children are also very influential and often ‘educate’
their parents by taking home what they have learnt at school.”
The joint partnership between DWAF and Unilever will see
the WASH Campaign rolled out at schools around the country,
in conjunction with the Vaseline children’s television
series and radio inserts on the country’s vernacular
stations. The Department of Health and Education are also
involved through their integration with the WASH campaign.
For further information:
Rachelle Seymore at DWAF – (012) 336-8250
Ethne Whitley at Unilever - (011) 656-0404
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