ISLAMABAD (February 12): Seeing is believing, so as a part of awareness raising and motivation on hygiene amongst the earthquake survivors, a special device will be used to demonstrate that germs present on every surface can easily transfer to hands and that soap can remove these germs and protect against infection and illness, according to a press release issued by the Emergency Hygiene and WES Communication Unit, Ministry of Environment.

Invisible to the human eye, germs can cause potentially life-threatening illness, especially in emergency situations, yet many people are unaware how to protect themselves and their families using soap and water. Many people are not familiar with the idea that germs are present on every surface and can cause serious illness if they are able to enter the human body.

Trainers from Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, Girl Guides, National Volunteer Movement learned how to use the germ demonstration device in an orientation held at the Scouts National Headquarters. They learned how to explain the presence of germs and the proper hand washing technique.

The germ magnification demonstration emphasises that hand washing with soap can significantly reduce the risk of illness and is essential before eating, before feeding children and after using toilets. It especially important for mothers to wash hands frequently while caring for children as this will prevent the spread of illness and also set a good example for the children to follow.

The activity is part of the Rahber programme being implemented by Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, National Volunteer Movement, Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, National Rural Support Program, National Commission for Human Development, Pakistan Girl Guides Association and other partners.

Under the programme, 50,000 children and adolescents will be mobilized from amongst earthquake survivors in camps as tent-to-tent communicators known as Rahbers to raise awareness about hygiene, safe drinking water and sanitation, health and child protection issues. Teams of three Rahbers will be assigned 10-15 family tents in both organized and spontaneous camps that they are to visit daily for five months to carry out interpersonal communication on hygiene and health promotion.

Ten germ demonstration devices are being provided to the Rahber program by Unilever, who also conducted the orientation.