THE OBSERVANCE  of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, 2020 was significant because it was led by the Department of Education and the Department of Health with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund.

With the theme “Clean Hands For All”, this year’s celebration marks the start of a stronger partnership as the three agencies joined hands with various development partners, sector representatives and local chief executives in an online symposium on October 15 and 16, 2020.

The event aims to identify key directions for sustaining the handwashing habit beyond the coronavirus pandemic and promote sustainable proper hand hygiene culture in the Philippines.

“DepEd has been celebrating Global Handwashing Day in schools since 2008, in recognition of the importance of building the habit of handwashing among children to ensure their health. Through our WASH in Schools Program, DepEd has institutionalized actions to improve handwashing facilities and instill handwashing behavior among learners,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

She added that under the new normal, the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan integrates handwashing practice as part of the required health standards.

“With the children continuing their learning at home because of the pandemic, we call on families to make their homes a safe environment to live and learn; and teach their children to make handwashing a habit. And when we do return to school, handwashing will be key in ensuring safety of our children,” Briones said.

The Health department has also promoted and integrated hand washing in its sanitation program.

Health experts have found that handwashing with soap is key in the fight against Covid19. Soap destroys the outer membrane of the virus and thereby inactivates it.

However, based on 2019 data, over 7 million Filipinos  are unable to wash their hands due to lack of access to a handwashing facility, water, or soap.

Data also showed that for the school year 2018-2019, only half of schools have at least one group handwashing facility with soap.

“Handwashing is critical to children’s health and development. Yet, handwashing is still out of reach for so many children and families—especially the most vulnerable. Sustained investments are needed to make hand hygiene a practice beyond the pandemic. The partnership of DepEd and DOH in bringing together a national handwashing roadmap is a critical step towards a safer future for children in the Philippines,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said.

The lack of access to hand hygiene facilities was also observed in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public spaces. Even when awareness and knowledge around handwashing is high – actual practice is often found to be much lower.

A study in 2018 by the Department of Education and UNICEF among school children found that less than 8 percent did actually wash their hands after using the toilet even when a handwashing facility with soap and water was available.