THE South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) has launched a Global Handwashing Day poster and song competition as part of activities to increase awareness of the importance of frequent hand washing in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

The poster and song competition targets grade six primary and preparatory school students in 36 schools in the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St Thomas.

Keron Crossman Johnson, regional environmental health officer for SERHA, said proper hand washing with soap and water has proven to be important in reducing the transmission of some diseases.

“Research has shown that hand washing techniques vary and oftentimes are inappropriate, therefore the poster and song competition is just one of the planned activities to commemorate Global Handwashing Day that is geared towards raising public awareness,” she said. “According to the US Centres for Disease Control, hand washing is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of many types of infection and illness in all settings — from your home and workplace to child care facilities and hospitals. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.”

Global Handwashing Day will be observed on October 15 this year. Among the activities planned to commemorate the day are hand washing demonstrations and presentations in selected schools and communities as well as all health centres.

“We also want to introduce low-cost technologies that will promote proper hand washing techniques, as well as conduct hand washing awareness activities with basic school teachers,” Crossman-Johnson added.

The posters will be judged based on clarity, content, creativity, attractiveness and visibility from a distance. The songs will be judged on relevance, content, arrangement, interest garnered by listeners, melody and originality.

Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third-place winners as well as the winning school. The deadline for entries closed on June 23. The competition winners will be announced at the media launch on Global Handwashing Day.