Pledge Hands to Save Lives campaign

In the news: The World Health Organization announced last September 23, 2012 that two cases of a SARS-like virus have been reported: a 49-year-old man from Qatar was in critical condition in a U.K. hospital and a 60-year-old Saudi Arabian woman died earlier this year. They suffered from a 99.5 percent identical Corona virus that caused acute respiratory syndrome and renal failure. (Corona viruses include a range of viruses from SARS to the common cold.).

Last 2003, when the SARS epidemics was discovered, we Filipinos were luck that we did not suffer much from this dreaded disease killing 774 people. (info via: abcnews.go.com) I am hoping that this year with the new found virus, it will still not affect us.

How washing Hands STOP diseases

The easiest and cheapest way to stop a virus from spreading and can save lives is by simply washing our hands every now and then. Children are most exposed to harmful bacteria that cause diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory ailments. Their hands get dirty while playing by touching objects that are contaminated by germs. Each year, 3.5 million kids worldwide lose their lives due to these preventable diseases.

Thus, Unilever together with international partners UNICEF and the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW), has been spearheading Global Handwashing Day, an advocacy that aims to create global awareness on the importance of handwashing. Building the momentum it has established over the last five years, Vaseline continues to champion the health of children as it celebrates this year’s Global Handwashing Day on October 15.

Right way to wash hands

At the event that was held last Wednesday at Shangrila Hotel Makati, Jillian Ward – a very bibbo child actress from GMA showed to us how to wash hands the proper way.

Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

Rub your hands (by following these steps) – more pictures HERE

the back of your hands
palm to palm
back of fingers
base of thumb
three fingers

Rinse your hands well under running water.

Dry your hands using a tissue, clean towel or air dry them.

What kind of soap to use (anti bacterial soap vs. nourishing soap)?

As a mom, one of my major concerns when washing hands frequently is having dry hands. My son, is not vain to put lotion in every wash so I prefer a soap that keeps our hands protected from germs and nourished at the same time. I am glad that Vaseline is a 2 in 1 soap that gives both: Germs out, Nutrients in.

Reaching out to more kids

As part of Unilever’s advocacy to build a Billion Better Lives and in line with the 2012 Global Handwashing Day, Vaseline is launching the awareness campaign Pledge Hands to Save Lives. The movement has mobilized various groups and organizations such as UNICEF, the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Knowledge Channel, and the Philippine Public Health Association to be a part of the cause. This year, the brand aims to educate 500,000 kids all over the country on proper handwashing, on top of the 350,000 kids it has helped for the previous four years.

On October 13, over 1,000 children from Paco Catholic School will be joined by Unilever employees and the Manila City government, as they pledge their handwashing commitment to kick off this year’s series of initiatives for the advocacy.

Through it’s partnership with Knowledge Channel, the Department of Education, and Department of Social Welfare and Development, Vaseline will also educate hundreds of thousands of children as it visits more than 300 schools nationwide.

Let us be part of the pledge to save lives, check out www.pledgeyourhands.com and Vaseline Facebook page www.facebook.com/Vaseline