WHY CLEANING CAN SAVE LIVES
Did you know that in developing countries such as the Philippines, 80 percent of all diseases are the result of a combination of poor hygiene, contaminated water, and poor sanitation?
“Lack of effective sanitation and poor hygiene practices are responsible for almost 3.5 million deaths of children every year,” says Dr. Lester Deniega, President of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP). “In fact, with regular cleaning, mothers can increase newborn survival rates by up to 44 percent.”
On the strength of the insight that “Cleaning can save lives”, representatives from the Department of Health, National Institute of Health, Lysol Philippines, and several local government units have come together to launch the First Philippine Spring Cleaning Day initiative.
As the first major activity of its proponents, the country’s first-ever Spring Cleaning Day will be held on May 11; there will be a simultaneous clean-up across five cities: Makati, Mandaluyong, Q.C., Manila, and Las Piñas.
This focus on cleaning is important because proponents of the First Philippine Spring Cleaning Day believe that even the home, which is supposed to be every family’s sanctuary, can be a hazardous place. They note that statistics show that there are 295 bacteria for every square inch of household surfaces; these usually dwell on phones, faucets, light switches, computer keyboards and shower drain areas, kitchen sinks, and toilet seats—everyday things in the home that we take for granted.
“What people don’t realize is that Cleaning Can Save Lives. Without knowing it, your home can become a haven for disease-causing bacteria and viruses. These bacteria can be transferred from person to person by direct or indirect contact,” says Marichu Gozun of Lysol (Reckitt Benckiser). “We invite everyone to join the Philippine Spring Cleaning Day to fight against the spread of diseases through better cleaning and sanitation practices. With this initiative, we hope to make people aware of the importance of being vigilant with regards the cleanliness inside our home and our community.”
Be part of the biggest public and private initiative for cleaning and sanitation, join the first Philippine Spring Cleaning Day on May 11 and be an advocate “I Clean, I Save” for your family, your community and your country.
Be part of the first public and private initiative for cleaning and sanitation, and join the Department of Health, Lysol and partner organizations as they celebrate Philippine Spring Cleaning Day on May 11. For more details, log on to www.philippinespringcleaningday.com and add us in Facebook www.facebook.com/philippinespringcleaningday
