Importance of Handwashing and Remembering those in Poverty

Today people around the world are being asked to consider the importance of handwashing and to remember those in poverty.

Here's the info about handwashing

The practice of handwashing with soap tops the international hygiene agenda this year with the first-ever Global Handwashing Day, slated for Wednesday 15 October 2008. With 2008 as the UN International Year of Sanitation, the Global Handwashing Day will echo and reinforce its call for improved hygiene practices.

The agencies leading the Global Handwashing Day efforts are part of the Global PPPHW and include the Water and Sanitation Program, UNICEF, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USAID through the Hygiene Improvement Project, Procter and Gamble and Unilever.

The guiding vision of Global Handwashing Day is a local and global culture of handwashing with soap. Although people around the world wash their hands with water, very few wash their hands with soap at the critical occasions.

The fascinating thing is that handwashing is easy, but not everyone does it. Or we don't all do it quite right. But handwashing can help reduce disease and save lives.

Also today's topic for annual Blog Action Day is to talk about poverty. This is a great link at Momcrats which poignantly shows the importance of personalizing poverty and show how important it is to help everyone. The Bridge Community in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, is a group a friend used to work for. I think its worthwhile to highlight local groups, as well as those helping out on the big picture.

I have also been impressed with the organization and distribution of the Midwest Food Bank. They do great things for people throughout the center of the country, from New Orleans up and now for people in poverty around the world.