On 15^th October 2010, the Third Global Handwashing Day, the promotion activities for Handwashing Day were held in 20 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in China. The theme of the activity for 2010 is ‘Clean hands save lives’. Through advocating the health practice of washing hands properly, intestinal and respiratory infectious diseases are expected to be effectively reduced.

On the morning of 15^th October, launching ceremony of Shaanxi Provincial

handwashing activities was held in Zhong Xun School, Dan Cun Township, Fu Ping County. Xi Hong, the Deputy Director of Shaanxi Province Department of Health, Xue Yizheng, the Deputy Director of Shaanxi Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee Office, Yang Yuxia, the Director of Wei Nan Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee Office, Jin Ailian, the member of Standing

Committee and head of Propaganda department of Fu Ping County Party Committee were present at the launching ceremony. Mark Leighton, the Country Director Plan China, was also invited to attend this activity. At the site, a student representative read the proposal on ‘Clean hands save lives”. Feng Xin, anchor from Shaanxi TV Station and image ambassador for Shaanxi Handwashing Day activities, led the children to demonstrate how to wash hands properly. At the activity site, more than 400 children and the participating honored guests finished “the six steps” in washing hands. After that, children at Zhong Xun School performed a clapper talk on “Hand-washing Song” in Shaanxi dialect, which integrated hand-washing and public health into rural life, combined education with recreation and could be read easily and fluently.

In the afternoon of 15^th October, the image ambassador, Feng Xin went to Yi Long Primary School of Pucheng County, which is one of Plan’s programme schools. There she participated in the game and interactive program of handwashing knowledge together with children. As one of the members in handwashing knowledge examination group, Feng Xin gave comments and guidance on children’s reply now and then.

It is reported that the 'Handwashing Day’ activities would last over 7 days in all parts of Shaanxi Province. During the activities, Shaanxi Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee, UNICEF and Plan China distributed posters, foldouts, badges and other publicity products to schools. Moreover they also made nearly 20,000 health kits particularly for those students who participated in the activities, including soap, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste and other daily hygiene products. The participating schools, through program performance, knowledge contest, interactive game, painting & calligraphy exhibition and other forms, advocated students to lift awareness of health and form a good habit of hygiene practice.

Mark Leighton, Country Director of Plan China, said in his speech, “I take this opportunity, on behalf of Plan China, to call on all children participating in this activity to grasp the correct way to wash hands and foster good hygienic habits. Meanwhile, I also hope you can teach your classmates and family members how to wash hands correctly. Let’s work together to cultivate the good habit of correct hand-washing and let’s build a healthy life with our clean hands!”

Meanwhile, to better spread the awareness of healthy hand-washing to the public, Shaanxi Patriotic Public Health Campaign Committee and Plan China would launch a week-long public advertisement for ‘Handwashing Day’ in Shaanxi TV Station.