As a mother, it is a rewarding experience watching my children grow from tiny infants to toddlers and kids. Each day in this journey has been filled with delightful memories, documenting each milestone, squealing for every tiny progress they made and squirming with every little trouble they encountered. Yes, children are precious! Yet, there are parents in so many parts of India who never see their children grow beyond the age of 5. How truly sad and heartbreaking that is for any parent. I knew 5 years was a growth milestone for them but never quite understood the importance of the number 5 for a child’s health till now till I came across some stunning statistics. Did you know that in India annually more than 6 lakh children below the age of 5 die due to diarrhea and pneumonia? As a parent, this loss of life stuns and hurts me especially because this is entirely preventable.

lifebuoy

A simple activity like handwashing with soap can bring down this unnecessary mortality of our children. We must make sure that we inculcate this healthy habit in all kids.

All kids must wash hands:

  • After using the toilet
  • Before and after eating
  • When someone is suffering from cold, cough or other respiratory infections
  • After playing in the park, with a pet
  • After touching garbage

And we need to take this awareness forward because it can help save lives. Lifebuoy initiated the ‘Help a Child Reach 5 Campaign’ to spread awareness about this important behavior. Lifebuoy has already changed handwashing behavior of 47 million people in India since 2010. They endeavor to better this goal and make it reach more villages and cities.  In this effort, they are being assisted by film actress, Kajol, who was moved to see young children losing their lives for something so trivial. Do watch Kajol’s video above and hear her share her thoughts on the topic.

To take this noble initiative forward and to help, you can:

  • Speak about this cause, share the video and donate. You can make your donations online at ‘Help a Child Reach 5’. This donation will be utilized in implementing handwashing awareness programs.
  • Lifebuoy in its commitment will donate an equivalent of your donation to the same program, hence your own effort no matter how small is doubled. See Lifebuoy’s Facebook page for more news, information and updates here.
  • Further, every time you share this video, Lifebuoy will pay Re. 1 to handwashing programs.

As a responsible citizen and parent, do your bit in improving a child’s chances somewhere in our country to reach the age of 5 and to live a full and healthy life. It does not require much. Just like our own kids, let us work towards good health for all of India’s children.

This post has been sponsored by Lifebuoy

16 Thoughts on “Sponsored Video: Lifebuoy Help a Child Reach 5 Campaign!

  1. Every voice counts, Rachna and I’m glad to see a lot of bloggers taking up this cause!

  2. A simple yet powerful habit, which can save a lot of innocent children. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Trust you Rachna to take up noble causes.
    Thanks on behalf of all kids.

  4. In our country the importance of hand washing seems to be overlooked in places like hospitals also. Good that some awareness is coming up. But men like those in the video would hardly have money for medical expenses leave alone hand wash ,? But yes just soap would do. It’s washing that’s important

    • Yes, you are absolutely right, Jaish. It is still not integral to our habits even among healthcare workers. Of course, hand washing with soap is all that is needed. More often than not it is the lack of awareness about the importance of handwashing that leads to disease and death. Thanks for reading!

  5. I have watched this video many times. It delivers the message very well.

    Hope this reaches many houses everywhere in India. Good to read this post, Rachna.

  6. Your spreading the awareness for cleanliness amongst all particularly children is admirable.Despite its marketing slant,Lifebuoy’s endeavour to carry the message is commendable

  7. Tejaswi Mishra on September 24, 2013 at 12:46 pm said:

    I agree with the fact that children’s are dying due to diarrhea…but i don’t think that saving them from diarrhea would help them saving from hunger and BEING ILLITERATE.
    and this leads to meany aspects as low illiteracy rate, high population,unemployment and crime.
    and this same chain goes on and on…..
    So, kindly ponder on what i am focusing on…..
    Thanks

    • Tejaswi, your point is valid but not interchangeable. Should we not inculcate awareness of healthy habits because these children are poor and they may die due to hunger? So, I don’t get your point at all. Handwashing habit is important for all children no matter which strata of society they belong in.

  8. Glad to see you writing for this cause, Rachna! More strength to you and the power of the written word!

Do not leave without commenting. I love a good conversation :).

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