Media Release

Panaji, Oct 22: Sesa Goa Ltd and Directorate of Health services joined hands, recently to mark Global Handwashing Day, to raise awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent communicable diseases.

The programme was organised at Directorate of Health services where Dr Basavaraj Pattanshetti from Sesa Goa Ltd handed over the informative posters about handwashing to Dr Rajnanda Desai, director of Health Services. Around 1600 posters in both English and Marathi under the slogan 'Washing your hands prevents disease' will be distributed by Sesa Goa Ltd and Directorate of Health Services to all schools, primary health centres, anganwadis and panchayats across Goa. The posters were aimed at improving students' knowledge on basic hygiene habits by depicting proper steps for handwashing.

Dr Rajnanda Desai, Director of Health services appreciated Sesa Goa’s efforts in promoting health awareness on subjects like H1N1 and Handwashing Day. She made a special mention of public-private partnership for larger success of the health initiatives. The campaign was conceptualised by Dr Jose D’Sa CMO, IDSP and Dr Geeta Kakodkar, health officer from UHC – Margao and was co-ordinated by Dr Sunil Kakodkar, associate general manager-Medical Services of Sesa Goa Ltd, Porshia Bali, associate manager-PR, Sesa Goa and Nilesh Zore, CSR officer, Sesa Goa. Sesa Goa Limited has been associated with DHS for various health awareness campaigns in the state.

Handwashing with soap can reduce the incidence of major diseases dramatically. It is important to educate children as they can act as agents for change and can take these habits home and to the wider community. With the right understanding and awareness, millions of lives can be saved.