REPORT OF GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY
To commemorate Global Hand Washing Day, the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Azeezia College of Dental Sciences and Research and NSS unit (NSS/SFU/KLM/KUHS/3) organised a Health Awareness Program / Dental Screening Camp in association with NSS unit at HKM Residential Public School, Umayanalloor, Kollam on 14th October, 2025.
The Global Hand Washing Day is an international hand washing promotion campaign with a motive of increasing awareness and understanding the importance of Hand Washing with soaps/ hand washes an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and infections. Global Hand Washing Day occurs on 15th October every year with the theme “Be a Hand Washing Hero”. The camp was successfully organised by a team of doctors and a dental assistant under the supervision and guidance of the Assistant Professor, Dr Naveen Jacob Varghese, Azeezia Dental College. The camp started around 10 am with an awareness class on the topic “Oral diseases its prevention and management” by Dr. Namitha (Post graduate, Department of Orthodontics) followed by a live demonstration of WHO Guidelines of proper Hand Washing technique by one of the Intern Dr Pavithra. The students were asked to repeat the demonstration individually which made the session more interactive and informative. Simultaneously oral screening was also done for students of kindergarten to 12th standard in the school. A total of 140 students were screened. Out of 140 students screened 25 were refereed for oral prophylaxis, 62 for restoration, 25 for extraction and 3 for orthodontic treatment.
A brochure describing WHO a guideline on Hand washing techniques was presented to Mrs Seenath, Principal of HKM Residential Public School by Dr Naveen Jacob Varghese on behalf of the public health dentistry department. The camp concluded around 1:30 pm.
