New Delhi: Sheikhul Alam Madarsa of Lucknow has introduced a hand wash in its curriculum to inculcate hygiene among the children as practice from a young age. Students studying in this Madrasa learn not only from the Quran and from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus, but also from the curriculum developed by Dettol India on hand wash and cleanliness.
A Sheikhul Alam Madrasa teacher told NDTV about their handwashing lessons, she said,
We teach them to wash their hands as soon as they wake up, and also wash them each time they use the toilet. We further tell them to keep their school as clean as they keep their homes and to not litter or make their classroom dirty but use a dustbin every time.
She further explained that something as vital as cleanliness and handwashing, if taught through religion, makes young children consider these habits as their duty and they take it more seriously.
We have learnt a lot from our madrasa about cleanliness but especially about the importance of handwashing. Our teacher tells as to wash our hands right before and after eating, and also after using the toilet. I also bathe every day and tell everyone I know about the importance of hygiene and handwashing, a student from the madrasa told NDTV.
Also Read: Global Handwashing Day 2019: Only 2 Out Of 10 Poor Households In India Use Soap, Survey
The Madrasa students are taught about the role of hygiene in keeping one’s health, not only is a fact in modern science but is also laid down in their holy text about 1500 years ago.
The Dettol curriculum includes a special book, games like ludo among other practical models. There’s also a hygiene corner in the classroom of Sheikhul Alam Madrasa, which is situated right next to the children’s washroom along with a shelf which contains cleaning agents like Dettol hand wash, hand sanitisers, Harpic toilet cleaner, among others.
Hygiene Corner with a shelf which contains cleaning agents like Dettol hand wash, hand sanitisers, Harpic toilet cleaner, among others
Also Read: Global Handwashing Day 2019: All You Need to Know
About Global Handwashing Day 2019:
The United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF cites handwashing with soap as one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent diarrhoea related deaths among other disease. Every year, October 15 is observed as Global Handwashing Day which is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. This year’s theme, is ‘Clean Hands For All’.
