Washing hands with soap and water has been and remains one of the
most cost-effective measures against the transmission of diseases that
are available in public health. The promotion of proper hand washing
with soap and water can save many lives.
Each year about 3.5 million children, die before their fifth birthday
due to preventable diseases, mainly diarrhea and acute respiratory
diseases. The adoption of the habit of washing hands with soap and water
before eating and after defecating, can prevent nearly half the number
of deaths from diarrhea, and almost on-fourth of deaths from acute
respiratory diseases.
For more information, visit PAHO's webpage on "Salud y Escuelas" (Health and Schools"): www.paho.org/saludyescuelas