In recognition of United Nation's Global Hand-Washing Day on Thursday, and to promote national health, Indonesian children will be conducting the hygienic activity simultaneously in their schools and neighborhoods.
Health Ministry spokeswoman Lily Sulistiyowati said Wednesday that the annual campaign aimed to remind all Indonesian people, especially the younger generation, about the importance of healthy living.
"People tend to forget to wash their hands, and therefore threaten their health. We, the govern-ment, join the UN's cause by endorsing the campaign," Lily told The Jakarta Post.
Around 300 students from state elementary school SDN 12 Pagi Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, will also be taking part in Thursday's national campaign from 9 a.m.
While the global theme of the day is "Clean hands save lives", Indonesia came up with its own three themes: "Wash your hands with soap for a fun and healthy lifestyle"; "Washing your hands with soap will help prevent the influenza pandemic"; and "Washing your hands with soap is a small thing with a huge effect".
"We picked those themes to encourage a wider audience, which encompasses children under five years-old, students, and adults, to practice regular hand-washing," Lily said.
People from different professions, like traders in the traditional markets and repairmen working at auto workshops, were also expected to join the cause, she said.
Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) secretary-general Zainal Abidin said it was important to instill the habit of hand-washing in children as it would help improve the general population's quality of life.
"I think we should start it at home, where we could provide clean water and soap to familiarize the children with the activity," he said.
"Furthermore, I think it is also very important for restaurants or eateries to provide clean running water for them to wash their hands and not just put water in a bowl."
An expert on public health, Pujianto, urged the government to go the extra mile to promote the habit to the public.
"It should not simply be an annual ceremonial campaign. It should be an activity that is promoted on daily basis."
