COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao—The World Health Organization has lauded the hygiene thrust in public schools of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao initiated in the second semester by Regional Education Secretary Jose Magno and Health Secretary Kadil Sinolinding Jr.
The German organization Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit also recognized Global Handwashing Day conducted in the ARMM, which prompted public elementary schools across Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, to install 1,500 washing facilities.
In a recent communique for DepEd-ARMM, the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, acknowledged the regional education and health departments’ “extensive advocacy for hygiene among local Moro school-age children,” many of whom were reportedly not conscious about the health benefits of hand washing especially before eating.
“It is wonderful to hear about the GHD now being undertaken regularly all over Muslim Mindanao,” the letter from WHO stated, adding that “such advocacy for hygiene ensures that all children can be clean and healthy to attend school.”
The WHO also commended ARMM and the national DepEd office for “working closely together to provide such strong support for this highly beneficial initiative.”
Magno and Sinolinding said the region’s GHD is “a global advocacy dedicated to promoting awareness and public understanding on the importance of hand washing to prevent diseases.”
The GHD is also supported by the Australian Assistance for International Development-funded Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao, Magno said.