United Nations Radio

FX music up and fade The simple act of washing hands could save thousands of children's lives every day mostly in Asia and Africa.

An estimated 5, 000 children die every day from diarrhea, but half of those deaths could be prevented, if they washed their hands with soap before meals and after going to the toilet.

Carolien Van der Voorden of the Secretariat for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council explains.

"We know there have been studies that show that most households do have soap in the households but they don't use it. They keep it for when there are special visitors coming or they might use it to do the washing but not handwashing. So it's a matter of making them understand that yes it costs money, it's valuable to buy soap but it's actually more effective to spend your money on soap than it is to go to the doctor because your child has diarrhea."

Activities are taking place in schools in more than 60 countries, most of them in Asia and Africa to introduce children to the importance of hygiene and handwashing in particular.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio. Music up and fade

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