"Look at my hands! They are clean!"

Since the introduction of polytanks to many of the schools near Humjibre, students have running water for cleaner, more effective hand washing. While the technology is there, without proper hand washing technique, hands will remain dirty, diseases will be spread, and children will fall sick.

The Muoho D.C. Primary School sits to the right of the dusty, pockmarked road between Humjibre and Bekwai. (Go here for a map of the Humjibre area) As you drive past you can often hear the high pitch chorus of recitations taking place inside the classrooms, even over the cacophonous rattle of the taxis streaming by. It was here that the GHEI health staff conducted their latest hand washing outreach on May 10.

Mensah Gyapong and Aggie Obeng prepared their lesson under the generous shade of a mango tree. The headmaster summoned the children out of their classrooms, and dozens marched towards the shade in an instance of surreal order and calm. With a little murmuring, they circled GHEI staff.

The lesson was straightforward: how you must wash before and after meals, after using the toilet, and simply running your hands underwater is not enough, you have to scrub with soap...fundamentals that many of us take for granted. This was, however, a review for many. When prompted, the group immediately launched into a boisterous recital of 'The Hand Washing Song' in Twi. “…And now in English?” Giggles rippled through the mob, but one brave young man strode to the center of the group, and performed well in front of his teachers and the whole school. ("Soap and water/soap and water/wash your hands/ rub them well together...")

Now the hand washing exercise begins, and the pretense of order crumbles a little, with students jockeying for a chance at impressing with their proper hand washing skills. Just as it looked like chaos loomed, the stern headmaster stood in the eye of the storm and calmed them all. Students lined up again, this time in lines of their respective levels and ages. With Aggie and Mensah supervising, dozens of hands were wet, great bubbles of lather built, and clean hands were rinsed and dried.

Afterward, the students gathered again in the shade for a presentation. The two hand washing monitors of the school were lauded and presented with two bars of soap. Proper hand washing is important, and these two boys promised to continue to be an example.

While the entire event swung from rigid order to joyous quasi-anarchy, the effectiveness of the message was intact. Walking among the playing students on lunch break after the demonstration, many students approached me, palms raised, saying “Look at my hands! They are clean!”

-Chad McCordic, GHEI Communications

Share |