There’s no denying that our hands are a gateway for diseases to enter our body due to how much we use them. Every day our hands come into contact with countless surfaces like door handles in public spaces. Washing our hands is one of the simplest ways to keep ourselves healthy and prevent the spread of germs. When Covid-19 struck, constant handwashing was the first line of defense recommended by health experts to keep us safe. 

As an added measure, handwashing with soap is vital to keeping infectious diseases from ravaging our immune system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), regular hand washing with soap contributes to better health because having clean hands is a fundamental defense against spreading infections, illnesses, and harmful germs. To keep spreading the word, Global Handwashing Day is annually celebrated to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits. Recently, P&G Philippines, maker of the antibacterial soap Safeguard, celebrated Global Handwashing Day by inaugurating donated handwashing stations constructed in Taguig City schools. 

This initiative is part of P&G Safeguard’s “SafeWASH in Schools” program, developed in collaboration with the Manila Water Foundation. The program seeks to instill good hygiene practices among students and teachers, safeguarding them from germs and viruses while at school. P&G Safeguard had previously donated handwashing stations to 285 schools across Metro Manila and Rizal Province. The latest addition of handwashing stations is also made from eco-bricks or building materials created from recycled plastic waste.

“We would like to thank P&G and Safeguard for their continued support in providing schools access to handwashing stations and consistently promoting WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene),” shares school division superintendent of Taguig City and Pateros Dr. Alejandro Ibañez. “The provision of these handwashing stations will be effective in increasing awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap and clean water to prevent communicable diseases in schools.”

Safeguard has been promoting health and hygiene in the country for over three decades. By supporting Global Handwashing Day, Safeguard and its partners aim to equip schools and the community with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves from germs daily.