'Best handwashing practices can help reduce several diseases'.

Byline: Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- Adopting best handwashing practices can help reduce several diseases that are an indirect burden on the health budgets of families and the nation, according to speakers at a seminar on Monday.

Experts at the seminar, titled 'Global Hand Washing Day 2019: Clean Hands for All', said that social protection policies and measures should also incorporate handwashing, hygiene and sanitation components for improved health indicators.

The seminar was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with Ministry of Climate Change Pakistan.

One of the speakers, WaterAid Head of Policy and Advocacy Nadeem Ahmed, emphasised the need to raise awareness about changing societal behaviour towards better hygiene and sanitation.

Social protection policies, measures should incorporate handwashing, hygiene and sanitation components, experts say

He said the most significant reduction would be observed in diarrhoea cases, adding that the government needs to provide an enabling environment and policy guidelines along with civil society coordination to actively participate and mobilise people.

Unicef Pakistan Wash chief Thewodros Mulugeta said the Pakistani government's flagship Clean Green Pakistan programme offers the right direction, policy and guideline for better water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) facilities in the country.

He said Clean Green Pakistan considers Wash a fifth important pillar of the initiative.

'With strong partnership under the Clean Green Pakistan programme, we all can achieve our desired objectives of Wash,' he said.

Speakers also observed that talking about feminine hygiene was a social taboo in Pakistani society, which needed to be cleared by educating the young generation at the school level and educating parents through school mobilisation...