Hand washing drive launched

Islamabad : The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, in collaboration with Allah Walay Trust, has launched a hand washing campaign in Islamabad's primary government schools overseen by the Federal Directorate of Education.

The initiative aims to encourage students to wash their hands before consuming school meals, thereby promoting better hygiene practices, according to officials.

They said as part of the exercise, modern water sinks and basins have been put up in schools, with hand washing soaps provided to students to ensure cleanliness.

The officials said regular hand washing helped eliminate germs, bacteria, and viruses that caused illnesses, including common colds and food poisoning, decreased the risk of transferring harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, to meals, and prevented the spread of infections to those with weakened immune systems, including the elderly, young children, and individuals with chronic illnesses.

They said hand washing before eating food prevented the transfer of germs from hands to meals, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and food spoilage. The officials said the campaign would promote cleanliness and hygiene among children.