Sanitation matters for all!
UNICEF and the Government of Turkmenistan mark the International Year of Sanitation through summer long campaign on sanitation and hygiene
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 26 June 2008 – The Health Information Centre under the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Education and UNICEF have launched a summer long campaign on sanitation and hygiene, targeting thousands of children, breastfeeding mothers and their families.
Messages targeted at schoolchildren promote personal hygiene through sustaining key habits, such as washing hands before eating and after using the toilet. In the framework of the campaign children will also take active part in essay contest on importance of hygiene and sanitation and how it affects health. The campaign engages children in a participation process so that they feel empowered and confident in being able to make a positive change. The campaign activities will take place at six newly built Children’s Health Centres in Geokdere resort area and summer camps in schools.
Breastfeeding mothers will get messages on positive impact of exclusive breastfeeding to prevent diarrhoea among children. Communication materials will increase young mothers’ understanding on how to make a quick diagnosis of diarrhoea among children, how to avoid dehydration by means of ORS (Oral Dehydration Solution) and benefits of breastfeeding that protects young children from infections, including diarrhoea.
It is worth to note, that for the first time, famous national singer, Gulshat Gurdova, mother of three young children, has expressed her willingness to be pictured on the poster with messages promoting breastfeeding. The TV spot, which will be aired on the national TV, will target mothers-in-law to support young women in correct management of exclusive breastfeeding without complementing it with water and other liquids.
The Sanitation and Hygiene campaign is organized as a national effort to mark the International Year of Sanitation (IYS) in 2008, which was announced by the United Nations General Assembly. Observation of the IYS by many countries in the world implies that governments make strong commitment to accelerate progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal target of reducing by half the proportion of people living without access to improved sanitation by 2015.
For more information please contact: Mr. Ayadil Saparbekov UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist Phone: +99312 425681/82/86/86 Fax: +99312 420830 Email: asaparbekov@unicef.org
Ayna Seyitlieva UNICEF Programme Communication Officer Phone: +99312 425681/82/86/86 Fax: +99312 420830 Email: aseyitlieva@unicef.org Web: http://www.unicef.org/turkmenistan
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