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Beijing, October 15, 2010 – More than 300,000 children throughout China today joined millions of their peers around the world to wash their hands properly with soap and take the good practice back to their homes and communities to mark annual Global Handwashing Day.

Washing hands with soap during critical times - after using the toilet and before handling food - is considered among the most cost-effective ways to prevent pneumonia and diarrhoea, which account for 20% child deaths in China each year. It is also considered more cost-effective in preventing diarrhoea than any vaccine or other known health intervention. 

In China, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has lathered up with partners from government ministries, the private sector, mass media, civil society and large numbers of children, to make this simple, life-saving practice a daily routine at school, in the home and in the workplace.

Near Beijing's iconic Great Wall, a launch ceremony was held to usher in a week-long nationwide campaign to promote handwashing behaviour change in more than 600 schools of 31 provinces.

"Some people ask why handwashing with soap is so important, and why we are working together with all kinds of partners to spread this seemingly obvious message," said Dr. Yin Yin Nwe, UNICEF Representative for China. "The simple fact is that we still have far too many children dying before the age of 5 due to infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, and handwashing with soap is the most cost-effective way of ensuring healthy children. Proper handwashing with soap can save many children's lives."

Well-known TV host and UNICEF China Ambassador Yang Lan appealed to the public at the event to make handwashing with soap not just a day but a life-long habit for children.

"Many people still wash only with water. I understand research shows that even though soap is available it is more often used for washing clothes and dishes than for washing hands," said Yang Lan. "I hope that I can appeal especially to parents, to motivate them to take this up as a mission to ensure their own children make it a habit and that their children in turn encourage their friends."

Global Handwashing Day events are being held in schools and communities where children learn about handwashing in fun and creative ways, including drawing competitions, writing contests, dramas, songs and dances. The children engaged will get hygiene kits that encourage them to take actions to wash their hands in the right way and become agents of change by sharing with their parents, peers, and communities.

Public campaigns supported by UNICEF are also in full swing to disseminate the message via TV, radio, newspapers, magazines and internet.

A public service announcement starring Chen Kun, China's A-list young artist and UNICEF Handwashing Campaign Special Advocate, is being aired by China Central Television Children's Channel from October 11 to 17 to reach millions of viewers. The theme song of the TV spot was written and composed pro bono by China's well-known music figure Mr. Li Ronghao, to help children pick up the knowledge of handwashing in musical gestures. The theme website (http://xishou.supportunicefchina.org) challenges the wits of net citizens to play on-line games of handwashing to win prizes.

"Aside from increasing the public awareness, we also want to bring to light the importance of increasing access to safe water supply, sanitary latrines and handwashing facilities in rural schools and communities to sustain the changes." Mr. Yang Zhenbo, UNICEF water and sanitation specialist said.

According to the Ministry of Health, rural access to sanitary latrines in China was around 60% by the end of 2008. According to research in nearly 18,000 schools, only 24% had sanitary latrines and less than 36% had handwashing facilities. In a 2007 study in one of China's western provinces, out of 3,500 visits to the toilet, handwashing with soap was only observed 9% of the time.

UNICEF has been working with the Government of China to provide rural schools and households with sanitary latrines and washing facilities. Personal hygiene education including handwashing with soap has been integrated in the curriculum of the project schools in 25 UNICEF-supported programme counties.

This year's campaign witnessed a broad alliance of UNICEF, the National Patriotic Health Campaign Committee, the Ministry of Education and the Communist Youth League of China with support from Plan International, Save the Children, China Red Cross Society, Procter & Gamble Safeguard Research Institute, Xi'an Kaimi, Kao Corporation, Watsons, Tencent and Baidu.

Since 2008, the Global Handwashing Day has been celebrated in over 80 countries to reinforce the importance of handwashing with soap. UNICEF's hygiene campaigns in China, which include strong media participation, will continue over the coming years to promote knowledge and change hygiene.

Global Handwashing Day is More Than just a Day!

About UNICEF in China:
UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the Revolutionary War. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. 

For further information, please contact:
Dale Rutstein, UNICEF China, +8610 65323131 ext. 1301, drutstein@unicef.org or
Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 65323131 ext. 1303, liliu@unicef.org