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By Emelia B. Addai

Ankoma (E/R), October 18, GNA – The Hunger Project-Ghana (THP-Ghana) celebrated Global Handwashing Day 2025 by providing 60 handwashing units and trash cans to schools in the Eastern and Ashanti regions to encourage cleanliness and prevent illness among pupils.

The campaign, titled “Be a Handwashing Hero,” took place at the Ankoma and Kyempo Epicentres, where pupils took part in handwashing shows and learned about cleanliness.

Mr. Solomon Amoakwa, a Senior Project Officer with THP-Ghana, stated that effective handwashing can stop the transmission of germs, such as bacteria and viruses responsible for respiratory and digestive tract infections.

“Germs can transfer between individuals or from objects to people if you touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands,” he explained.

“Using soap and running water to wash hands is among the most efficient and cost-effective methods to stop illnesses and protect lives,” he mentioned.

This initiative is a component of the HOPE-MCH project aimed at enhancing hygiene habits in schools and local areas.

Thirty handwashing facilities were provided to nine educational institutions at the Ankoma Epicenter in the Kwahu East Municipality. The recipient schools comprised Nteso Anglican Primary and Junior High School (JHS), Nteso D/A Basic School, and Abisu Number One Basic School.

In the Asante Akim South Municipality, at Kyempo Epicenter, an additional 30 handwashing facilities and trash bins were provided to 10 primary schools, including Kyempo Faith JHS, Kyempo Presby Basic School, and Subinso M/A JHS, among others.

Mr. Amoakwa mentioned that the provision of handwashing stations and trash bins was facilitated by the Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) initiative.

The initiative focuses on enhancing cleanliness habits among children and local residents, particularly students.

Mr. Ebenezer Addi Akuffo, the School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator in the Kwahu East District, encouraged students to keep up with consistent handwashing practices, referencing the insights gained from the COVID-19 pandemic.

I urge you to keep up the habit of washing your hands with soap using running water, as you did during the COVID-19 outbreak, since germs are present everywhere,” he stated, and “let’s keep battling them.

A public health nurse named Ransford Baah Mensah conducted a demonstration on correct handwashing methods.

World Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15 to highlight the significance of proper hand cleaning in avoiding diseases.

GNA

Edited by D.I. Laary/Benjamin Mensah