The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, encouraged students in Fiji to become advocates for hygiene during the celebration of Global Handwashing Day in Nadi. He underscored the vital role of handwashing as a simple yet powerful tool to prevent the spread of diseases.
“Handwashing is a practice that can easily be forgotten as we grow older, but it is essential to instill this habit in children,” Dr. Lalabalavu noted during his address, admitting that he too sometimes overlooks this important routine. He emphasized that developing handwashing habits at a young age contributes to lifelong health awareness.
The Minister highlighted the additional benefits of regular handwashing, which not only protects against illness but can also lead to lower healthcare costs, illustrating the economic advantages of maintaining good hygiene. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of partners, including the Ministry of Education and Colgate-Palmolive, who have been instrumental in fostering awareness and supporting hygiene initiatives throughout the year.
Dr. Lalabalavu urged students to actively promote handwashing in their schools, calling on them to “be a hero of handwashing; adopt this practice and advocate its importance to your peers and the adults around you.”
Since its inception in Fiji in 2010, Global Handwashing Day serves as a reminder of the crucial role proper hand hygiene plays in reducing communicable diseases and enhancing community health.
The focus on handwashing is part of broader efforts in Fiji to improve public health, with private sector initiatives like those from Punjas Group contributing to the cause. Recently, Ocean Soaps, a division of Punjas, supported hygiene campaigns by supplying antibacterial soap to schools, further reinforcing the message that regular handwashing is significant for public health and fosters healthier communities.
These cooperative efforts between the government and private sector are promising, targeting not only immediate health benefits but also the long-term objective of instilling positive health habits in Fiji’s youth. Such initiatives serve to enhance hygiene practices while emphasizing the importance of community involvement in improving health outcomes nationwide.