A clean pair of hands

Global Handwashing Day, to make children aware of the importance of sanitation and good health practices, will kick off today with millions of children from Colombo to Dhaka, Karachi to Kabul and Kerala to Kathmandu practising the power of proper sanitation through soap suds and pledging not to leave their excreta in the open.
This programme, an initiative by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was planned in response to the alarming revelation that more than 48% of the population living in South Asia are not using toilets at all. This is the highest rate of poor sanitary practices in the world.

Today, UNICEF, with the Health Ministry, will conduct an awareness programme centred around schools, where 1,500 Public Health Inspectors will visit a record number of schools to demonstrate how handwashing be done properly. Also, demonstrations will take place in clinics, hospitals and tea plantations.

This initiative was a reaction to the failure of many countries in the region to realise one of the most important Millennium Development Goals – Improved Sanitation. According to UNICEF, six of the eight countries in the region have failed to reach this all important goal, while only Pakistan and Sri Lanka have made notable progress in reducing related deaths among children under five.

“We know that, this single, very ordinary act of washing hands with soap can have an extraordinary impact on saving the lives of Sri Lanka’s children,” Regional Director- UNICEF South Asia, Dan Toole said, commenting on the event. “It is inspiring to see all our partners, teachers, politicians, and NGOs – and most importantly, children themselves – put so much energy and enthusiasm into Global Handwashing Day. We know that children can transform this day into an automatic act and this way dramatically improve the chances of their countries to reach the Millennium Development Goals.”

One of the main aims of Global Handwashing Day is to promote good personal hygiene, by trying to lift the lid on open defecation, which is termed as one of the world’s last taboos. This practice causes serious health risks such as Diarrhoea, Worm Infestations, Hepatitis and Acute Respiratory Infections like Pneumonia – all big killers of children. It is also one of the greatest environmental hazards and the greatest contributor to malnutrition in the region.

Although Sri Lanka is striding far ahead of its neighbours, where, under-five child mortality rate has decreased over the past few decades, the growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and poor sanitation facilities at temporary settlements may retard the country’s progress.

Therefore, while making aware of the importance of proper handwashing, it is also important to provide the necessary sanitary facilities to those who are internally displaced.

A vision for unseen opportunities

Today is White Cane Day. It is a day to mark or, to recognise, the achievements of people who are blind or, visually impaired. Declared in the United States as an unofficial holiday in 1964, White Cane Day has ever since been commemorated the world over as a day to render recognition to the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the White Cane.

Throughout history, the cane, in various forms, has been used as an aid for the blind. However, it was not until the 20th century that it is was recognised as more than a mere travelling aid, and was promoted as a symbol to alert others, that an individual was visually impaired.

Living in a world where there is less tolerance for being different, White Cane Day comes as a reminder to be more receptive to those who are differently-abled. Many believe that, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of sight, but the lack of understanding of the capabilities of the visually impaired.

The lack of information and poor awareness hamper the blind, more than the loss of their sight, as the opportunities available for them, in terms of training and education are numerous.

This year, White Cane Day provides hope for the blind and affords an opportunity to the authorities to further initiate awareness among the general public, provide specialised training for the blind and give due respect for the White Cane.

Those who have lost their eyesight, at birth or after, have rendered their services to the country as teachers, painters, musicians etc. Yet, there are many who are unaware of the many education and employment opportunities available to them.

Within Sri Lanka’s hallowed Free Education system, including University education, there are many opportunities for the blind to excel in their studies. Also, State-sponsored scholarships are made available to them to further their education.

However, there are still a number of visually impaired individuals unaware of the many opportunities available to them. A mass-scale awareness programme, aimed at both the blind and the seeing, must be set in motion, to spread the importance of respecting and recognising this special group of individuals.

Hence, it is an important fact to realise on this year’s White Cane Day that, the White Cane is not only a symbol of independence for the blind, but also a real eye-opener for those who are seeing, as well.

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