The third yearly Global Handwashing Day that marked on Friday was celebrated by members of the Department of Education, Department of Health, UNICEF, Procter & Gamble and Fit for School with the students of Bagong Ilog Elementary School in Pasig City.

One can get rid of many common diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia by washing hands properly with soap, as it prevent the transmission of germs.

The children of the school were made to dance and clap their hands to a rhyme that included the importance of handwashing with soap. Also, the partners of the Global Handwashing Day depicted how to use Tippy Tap, a water dispenser with a water bottle that releases a small amount of water on being tipped.

With the initiation of the Department of Education’s Essential Health Care Package (EHCP), most of the students at Bagong Ilog have a habit to wash their hands with soap. EHCP was executed in the school by Fit for Schools in the last October.

Outside every class, there is a long basin being hung from above. Also, by employing the finances from the barangay, parents constructed the handwashing facilities.

“Bagong Ilog school was one of those that started it but actually we have pilot tested it in many schools in the Philippines. But we want to reach the 45,000 schools nationwide”, said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.