TWO St Thomas students emerged winners of the Poster and Song Competition put on by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) in observance of Global Handwashing Day.

Akeil Harris from Bath Primary and Junior High School won in the poster category, while Sidra Grant of Port Morant Primary and Junior High School took the song prize.

Global Handwashing Day is observed on October 15th and is an initiative of UNICEF.

The competition targeted grade six students in the parishes of St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas. Twenty-one entries were received from 18 schools, with 15 students entering posters and six entering songs.

The posters were judged based on clarity, content, creativity, attractiveness and visibility from a distance. The songs were judged on relevance, content, arrangement, interest of listeners, melody and originality.

The competition was launched to raise public awareness particularly among children as they suffer disproportionately from diarrhoeal diseases, with more than 2.2 million children under five dying every year from diarrhoea and pneumonia-related diseases.

Jean-Pierre Gordon and Shaeem Brooks from Old Harbour Bay Primary School, placed second and third respectively in the poster category, while Andrew Francis of Spanish Town Primary School and Raheem Williams from Jericho Primary School placed second and third respectively in the song competition.

The students were awarded last Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at the National Chest Hospital.

During his remarks at the brief ceremony, SERHA chairman Lyttleton Shirley congratulated the students and urged them to become agents of change.

“Our children are our future and it is important that proper handwashing techniques be instilled in them early and so I want to encourage the children here today to become handwashing ambassadors so that we can create a ripple effect,” he said.

“Handwashing with soap, especially during critical points such as after using the toilet and before handling food, is a key cost-effective and life-saving intervention,” he continued.

The poster and song competition is among a number of planned activities to commemorate Global Handwashing Day. Hand washing demonstrations and presentations were also held in selected schools, communities and health centres.