28 July 2009
HPB launches innovative skit to get children off to a head start in practicing good personal hygiene
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) continues to drive home the importance of good personal hygiene to help fight Influenza A, H1N1 and other infectious diseases through a new skit titled Germs Go Away. This fun and interactive skit will reach out to about 4,800 children in 60 pre-schools from now till March 2010.
2 Launched by Mr Seah Kian Peng, Member of Parliament, Marine Parade GRC, the skit is part of HPB's on-going programme to teach children the value of good personal hygiene. It will incorporate details such as the eight steps for thorough hand washing and the need to cover one's nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing. The skit will also teach children how they can help prevent infections like the flu from spreading, for example, by staying at home when unwell.
3 "In light of the onset of the Influenza A, H1N1 virus, it is crucial to continually reinforce the importance of good hygiene practices especially among our younger children who are in the high risk group for complications from the flu virus. We hope that by reaching out to pre-schoolers we can help them establish good hygiene habits for life, reducing the spread of infectious diseases," said Mr Lam Pin Woon, CEO, Health Promotion Board.
4 HPB has commissioned popular children s theatre production company, Act 3 Theatrics to produce and enact the skit. The initiative will kick off at PCF Braddell Heights with around 100 children.
5 The skit will incorporate the three mascots from the National Environment Agency (NEA)'s 'Clean and Healthy Me' programme for pre-schools. "We are pleased to join hands with the Health Promotion Board on the Germs Go Away educational programme to teach young kids the importance of maintaining good hygiene. We hope that the children will have a fun learning experience through this light-hearted skit and our three endearing mascots, Katie Cat, Debbie Duck and Owen Owl," said Mr Ng Meng Hiong, Deputy Director, 3P Partnership Department of the National Environment Agency.
6 The Germs Go Away initiative for pre-schools is supported by Lifebuoy (Unilever).