The National Handwashing Day will be launched at the Lucas R. Pascual Elementary School, Division of Quezon City. This will be attended by the Secretaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DepEd. Simultaneous activities will be held in Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City and Davao City. All public schools are encouraged to conduct handwashing drill after the Flag Ceremony on October 15, 2012.
The DepEd has been actively promoting handwashing with soap to Filipino children and their families since 2008. In 2009, this activity was incorporated in its Essential Health Care Program (EHCP), a school-based flagship health program that teaches simple and cost effective health interventions to prevent illness among public school children through the practice of daily handwashing with soap, daily toothbrushing with flouride toothpaste, and bi-annual deworming. Thus, this Department issued DepEd Order Nos. 65, 66, and 76, s. 2009 institutionalizing the EHCP in schools, setting up the necessary facilities, and providing standard guidelines for the prevention of Influenza A (Hi N 1) virus among school children.
Likewise, the DepEd also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Fit for School, Inc. For the EHCP's implementation, and endorsed House Resolution No. 1436 through DepEd Memorandum No. 450, s. 2009.
Regional directors (RDs) and schools division/city superintendents (SDSs) are encouraged to support the celebration of the National Handwashing Day. The region/division health and nutrition units/sections, Adopt-a-School Program (ASP) coordinators, in coordination with other government organizations and nongovernment organizations (NGOs), shall take the lead in planning, implementing, and monitoring the activities in their respective jurisdictions. Engaging the active participation of parents and other members of the community in these activities will not only transform the role of families and their community as major stakeholders in the prevention of illness among children but also raise their awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap.
Narrative and pictorial reports on the celebration of the National Handwashing Day shall be included in the Fourth Quarter Report on the Integrated School Health and Nutrition Program. These reports shall be sent to the Office of the Secretary (Attention: The Director, Health and Nutrition Center), DepEd Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City.
Immediate dissemination of this information is desired.
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