Teaching kids proper handwashing

Sen. Richard Gordon takes on a new task with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) — to teach children proper handwashing with soap so they can protect themselves against preventable diseases, especially during times of disaster and calamities.

In partnership with Safeguard, Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) leading anti-bacterial soap, Gordon is mobilizing the PNRC chapters nationwide to educate children on proper handwashing with soap as a way to protect themselves against five health threats — diarrhea, cough, colds, pneumonia and skin rashes. These diseases commonly spread in disaster areas and evacuation centers due to unsanitary conditions that people neglect to pay attention to during times of disasters.

Health partners Safeguard and the PNRC, together with the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) and Medical Wellness Association (MWA), launched the Protect 5 Handwashing Program with the “5-5-5” common mission — to teach five kids every hour for the next five years about proper handwashing to fight the five health threats.

“The handwashing program is a significant initiative as children are the most vulnerable to diseases in times of disasters and calamities. Arming them with the basic knowledge on how to protect themselves from preventable diseases is a noble undertaking that PNRC definitely wants to be a part of,” said Gordon.

The senator’s involvement in the campaign becomes even more relevant to him because of his affiliation with both Safeguard and PNRC. He was once the brand manager for Safeguard during his stint with P&G early in his professional career. At the same time, being a true blue PNRC worker, Gordon donated his full talent fee from the television advertisement that he did for Safeguard to the PNRC to sustain the organization’s operations.

Gordon leads Red Cross on its new task: teaching kids proper handwashing
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