Hand wash Champions Felicitated

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar, 21 October, 2021: The Global Hand washing Day was observed in Bhubaneswar by Single Window Forum and Community Management Committee members of 8 wards in collaboration with Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Water for Women Fund, Australian Government, Sakha and numerous other partners to mark the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in a post-pandemic world. While recognizing the significance of the theme for the Global Hand washing Day, 2021, `Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together, Ashisha Behera pointed out to the management of Hotel Presidency where the event was being held to ensure dignified inclusion before urging people to adopt safe hand washing practices. “We urge the management to change the signage outside the toilet and make it trans-inclusive before we observe safe hand washing” she added.

The observance of Global Hand washing day is part of the city-wide response to strengthen equitable WASH services by public and private stakeholders with community’s most affected by the inequity at the centre of the response.

On the occasion, champions, master trainers and duty-bearers, who spearheaded the movement on safe WASH practices to protect vulnerable groups from contracting COVID-19 were felicitated. This included Ms Sangeeta Kinnar, transgender, Ms Sangita Patra, orthopedically challenged ,Ms. Sanjukta Sahoo,  Ms Krishna Patra and Mr Narayan Bhoi , elderly and duty-bearers such Mr. Nisit Ranjan Sahoo,  Ms. Rasmita Pati ,and Ms. Rajalaxmi Mohanty, Urban Primary Health Centre.

Speaking on the day’s theme, Shri Saswat Joshi, International Dance Icon, emphasized that, the “simple technique of washing hands that has been imbibed by each of us from our parents now assumes great importance with the pandemic making us adopt this practice consistently to protect oneself from the virus.”  He crafted the pledge for the day- “We can create a healthy world by washing our hands regularly. We, transgender, women and men, together pledge and commit to make this world a safe and inclusive world for all.  “

Taking this forward, Mr Biswaranjan Sarangi, Technical Officer, International Hockey Federation spoke about how all “measures will be taken for the protection of the citizens and this includes safe hand washing in the stadium “ during .the upcoming Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar from 24 November to 5 December 2021.

Mr Nishan Jyoti Mohanty from the East Coast Railways and associated with the Royal Society for Protection of Birds endorsed his commitment to hand hygiene.

To go beyond appeals and advice and promote safe hygiene practices, 170 mobile hand washing stations made by SATO from plastic (certified by CIPET) with a lifetime of 110 years were distributed by CORE Foundation to 45 persons representing Transgender, Person with Disability, Elderly, adolescent, single window forum member, Masson.

Sarada Prasad Sarangi, Territory Sales Manager, SATO representative demonstrated how to use the hand wash stations. He also announced the commitment of SATO to produce affordable hand wash stations for the urban poor community.

Mr. Ayesha Behera and Ms. Bishnupriya Behera, CFAR demonstrated safe hand washing technique and at the end of the event, skits were presented by the community to highlight the importance of hand hygiene and waste management.

The event concluded with the participants taking the pledge to be committed to safe hand hygiene practice.