Aligarh: A health talk and other awareness events were held on Saturday to observe the ‘Global Hand Washing Day’ at the Rural Health Training Centre, Jawan of the Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University.

Discussing the necessity to sanitize hands, Prof Saira Mehnaz, Chairperson, Department of Community Medicine, stressed: “Germs can spread from person to person or from surfaces to people when they touch eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and prepare or eat food with without sanitizing hands”.

She was speaking in the awareness programme at the SMP Hr. Secondary School, Jawan, which falls under the RHTC field practice area.

Dr. Uzma Eram, Member-In-Charge, RHTC, spoke on the theme, ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’ and sensitized children on the importance of hand sanitation.

Addressing the school students, Dr. Asma Aftab and Dr. Absar Ahmad informed them about how handwashing with soap and water is the best way to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

Dr. Tabassum Nawab guided interns to create awareness posters.

Similarly, the faculty members and students of the Department of Home Science observed the occasion with an awareness programme for children at the Jyoti Kiran Foundation Educational Center in Amir Nisha, Aligarh.

“Undergraduate students demonstrated steps of hand washing to students and motivated them to keep their surroundings clean”, said Prof Farzana Alim, Chairman, Department of Home Science.

She also spoke about the necessity to promote hand hygiene at home and in the community.