Make hand washing a habit to reduce disease spread- UNICEF

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), says more than 300,000 young children died last year due to diarrheal infections linked to poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Last Saturday, October 15, was Global Hand washing Day and the agency has asked children, families and communities to make hand washing a habit to help prevent the spread of disease.

UNICEF described hand washing with soap as a "straightforward solution" that could have prevented many of these deaths.

When children wash their hands with soap after going to the toilet or before eating, their risk of getting diarrhea drops by more than 40 per cent, the agency said.

And with countries like Haiti and Yemen facing cholera outbreaks, UNICEF is calling for the practice to become a habit to help reduce the spread of disease and save lives.

Haiti is emerging from the destruction of Hurricane Matthew which hit earlier this month.

UNICEF said cases of suspected cholera and acute diarrhea have increased sharply in the wake of the storm.

SOURCE: Dianne Penn, United Nations.