Proper hand washing with soap is said to be the one done under running water. In most public school in Ghana however, the communal form of hand washing has been practiced over the years. According to Mr Peter Serenye, the national coordinator of the Ghana WATSAN journalist network, communal hand washing is not hand washing at all. He made the statement in his presentation at the launch of a documentary made the network as part of activities to mark the global hand washing day which falls on October 15^th.

The documentary was conducted in ten selected schools in the greater Accra region, where the cholera outbreak this year was prevalent. According to the documentary, none of the schools visited had adequate facilities to serve the purpose with  facilities completely absent in some of the  schools .Most of the  schools with the facilities however were in very deplorable conditions as a result of inconsistent flow of water and inadequate maintenance practice, making it unattractive  for the pupils to use.

Representative from Water aid in Ghana, funders of the documentary, in her presentation advised hand washing with soap to be promoted not only on October 15^th annually but as a way of life. She mentioned that hand washing with soap, cost next to nothing but has enormous benefit to individuals who practice it.

The chairman of the launch, Mr Atta Arhin of the ministry of water resources works and housing in his closing remarks promised his ministry will take it up to support primary schools especially those captured in the documentation with access to water and soap to enhance their practice of proper hand washing. He also acknowledged the contribution of the Ghana WATSAN journalist network for their contribution to the sector in its short time of being in existence. The launch brought together members of the network and stakeholders in the WASH sector of Ghana.

Ida Coleman

RCN Ghana.