LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – Ahon Batang CALABARZON (ABACA-UPLB) successfully held the ABACALUSUGAN: WASH O’Clock Campaign Seminar on June 20, 2022 at the La Mesa Elementary School in La Mesa, Calamba, Laguna. This marks the organization’s first project as part of UNICEF Philippines and the Department of Health’s (DOH) WASH O’Clock campaign. 48 students were given a talk on children’s rights, as well as given a practical hand washing lesson where they learned proper hand washing techniques and hygiene practices. Hygiene kits containing alcohol and soap were handed out during the event. Snacks were also provided to both students and faculty courtesy of the event’s sponsors. In addition to that, posters and stickers were put up around the school to remind students to wash their hands.
Wash, Wash, And Away!
The seminar kicked off with opening remarks given by ABACA-UPLB President Derrick Pertez where he shared the organization’s advocacy and the goals of the WASH O’Clock Campaign. As part of ABACA-UPLB’s efforts to protect Filipino children’s rights and empower them with foundational knowledge, a series of talks were given at the start of the program.
Dr. Ana Lozante, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the PNU School of Information and Knowledge Management and information literacy advocate, delivered a recorded talk on youth empowerment during the new normal. This was followed by a discussion on children’s rights by ABACA-UPLB’s Project Development Head Ray Biñas where students learned about children’s basic needs and issues.
Later, UNICEF WASH Specialist Elmira Bacatan delivered a recorded talk on when to wash our hands and the proper way to wash them. Students performed the hand washing techniques at the school’s wash station with the guidance of ABACA-UPLB members. To remind students to wash their hands, WASH O’Clock posters and stickers were placed near the school’s restrooms and hand washing stations.
The event was closed by Totie Motas of the Sannguniang Kabataan in La Mesa who helped make the seminar possible. To wrap up, ABACA-UPLB handed out snacks to all the students and faculty members.
As students begin to return to limited face-to-face classes, observing basic hygiene is one of the key ways to combat the COVID-19 virus and other communicable infections. The ABACALUSGAN: WASH O’Clock Seminar aims to raise awareness on the importance of handwashing amidst the risks of the pandemic, help children build hand washing habits, and learn the right times to wash their hands. This seminar is part of ABACA-UPLB’s continuous efforts to empower and protect Filipino children.
About WASH O’Clock Campaign
With the aim of encouraging Filipinos to master proper hand hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH, in partnership with UNICEF, launched the WASH O’Clock campaign to help build hand washing habits and create a culture of handwashing in schools and communities.
The campaign includes installation of signages and public handwashing stations to nudge people to wash their hands in markets, malls, transport hubs, government offices, churches, restaurants, health centers, and even public utility vehicles. The campaign places these nudges in the environment to trigger hand washing during important moments such as: before eating, after going to the market, after toilet use, and more.
About ABACA-UPLB
ABACA-UPLB is a youth-led non-profit, non-partisan organization for the children of the Philippines, specifically in the CALABARZON region. It aims to uplift children holistically through youth-empowered initiatives driven by a shared vision of a better future for the Filipino youth.
ABACA-UPLB strives to open doors of opportunity for children to help give them a solid foundation. With this, it seeks to prioritize and promote children’s rights through passionately and fairly educating people. The organization is based in the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
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