MEC launches ECD Hygiene & Drought Awareness Campaign

Today, the Western Cape Social Development MEC, Albert Fritz, launched the Department’s ECD Hygiene & Drought Awareness Campaign by handing over 30 hygiene packs to the Teddy’s Den Creche in Rugby.

The campaign will focus on registered Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, to raise awareness about the need for children to maintain good hygiene practices even as we save water.

The hygiene packs were generously donated by NGO-partner, Al-Imdaad, and each pack consists of;

• Toilet Roll,
• Toothpaste,
• Tooth Brush,
• Vaseline,
• Lotion,
• Soap,
• Face Cloth.

Children in crèches can be susceptible to illness and diseases, if good hygiene practices are not followed. Some of the most common illnesses at crèches include colds and flu, diarrhoea and rashes.

These hygiene packs and ongoing awareness initiatives will ensure we can prevent the outbreak of diseases, such as the national listeriosis outbreak, at our ECD centres.

The Teddy’s Den Creche is led by its Principal, Judy Philand, who has led in its water-saving efforts, by installing a mini grey-water system. Other measures include cutting water usage by having children wash their hands in a basin with disinfectant and reducing the amount of toilet flushing. We commend them for their efforts to help save water.

The campaign will ultimately see 350 hygiene packs handed over to 4 crèches across the province, prioritizing registered ECD centres that cater for children with disabilities.

We all need to continue saving water, and use less than 50 litres per person per day. We cannot be complacent, given that we require as much water in storage as possible heading into the 2018/19 summer.