Ministry of Health Launches Sanitation Week with emphasis on handwashing

Post date: Mar 18, 2020 12:46:19 PM

Ministry of Health will on Friday 20th March in Bulambuli district commemorate the Sanitation Week as well as launch and declare every last Saturday of every month a general cleaning day.

The Sanitation week celebrations will be held at Bulengene primary school playgrounds in Bulambuli district under the theme, “Sanitation for all, Leaving no one behind. The State Minister of health for primary care will be the guest of honor.

Speaking at the official launch on Monday, the Commissioner for Environmental Health Department, Julian Kyomuhangi noted that Uganda is still lagging behind in Sanitation issues hence the need for new actions like the national general cleaning day.

“Statistics indicate that only 37% of Ugandans wash their hands during critical times like after using toilets, before and after eating food while latrine coverage stands at 75%. Also, 75% of all diseases in Uganda are as a result of poor Sanitation and poor feeding. As Ugandans we need to take sanitation seriously,” she said.

The launch comes at a time when the world is at a standstill due to corona Virus outbreak. The high spread of the disease is partly attributed to poor sanitation.

“By washing your hands frequently and ensuring personal and domestic hygiene, we can avoid such disease outbreaks like Corona Virus. Our health should be important to all of us,” she said.

She further noted that the ministry will be ready to use legal force for community members that will refuse to participate in general cleaning day but also encourage community members to isolate members that are adamant.

Source: https://chimpreports.com