The Ministry of Health through the HECOPAB Unit in collaboration with the WASH Multi-sectoral Body is observing Global Handwashing Day in Belize today, October 15, 2020. This year’s theme is “Hand Hygiene for All,” and is a call to action for institutions and individuals to improve hand hygiene efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
To beat the virus today and ensure good health, this year’s theme highlights the need to continuously raise awareness on hand hygiene across all communities to respond to and control the COVID-19 pandemic. Handwashing with soap is one of the best steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many germs that can make people sick spread when we do not wash our hands with soap and clean, running water. That is why handwashing is so important, especially at key times such as after using the bathroom, when preparing food, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
The WASH Multi-sectoral Body, which also includes UNICEF, Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, the Belize Red Cross, and the Social Investment Fund, is committed to helping share the knowledge about the importance of washing your hands at critical times, and will use Global Handwashing Day as a platform to spread its message.
The aim will be strengthened through a video competition calling families to wash hands. The video clip should demonstrate the proper handwashing steps. Video entries are to be submitted via a message to the Ministry of Health’s Facebook. Deadline for submission is October 23, 2020. The first 10 videos showing accurate steps will win a prize.
By spreading awareness, each person can do their part to build better, healthier communities. Therefore, there is the need for a renewed effort and commitment from all sectors – parents, schools, local and national government, as well as the international organizations. This activity is being supported through the dissemination of posters and flyers on handwashing demonstration in all districts by the Community Health Workers.
