“Mamma, look at this colorful fish I made. Isn’t it so
pretty!”. Exclaimed my 8 year old as she admired her creation drawn on a
chalkboard, before announcing in the same breath, “Am hungry..”. I took out the
healthiest yet fulfilling snack I could think of. An apple! As she reached out
to take the apple from my hand, I noticed her chalk-smeared hands &
instantly realized the futility of washing the fruit so thoroughly before
handing it out. It was not only to restore the goodness of the fruit but also
to protect my daughter’s tiny body from the germs that stuck to it. But here
she was, defeating the purpose by touching it with her powdery hands. All my
pleas to wash her hands with soap fell on deaf ears. It wasn’t the first time
we had battled over the topic. Now my daughter really cherishes her chalkboard
& loves giving shape to her imagination on it. It is inevitable that she
lays her hands on the chalks, the colorful wands that give wings to her
creativity. Though I loved what SHE did with them, what I certainly did not
like was what THEY did to her! Leave powdery, harmful residue on her hands that
is. What I resented even more were her half-hearted efforts of washing them
after much pleading; keeping them under the tap for a couple of seconds &
getting over with it. No wonder she was complaining of stomach-aches ever so
often. I suspected the chalky residue to be the reason. I wished there was a
way out of the situation & often wondered how vulnerable those children who
use slates & chalks in school, must be? I mean, here was my daughter who,
despite having a parent goading her to wash her hands, was still reluctant to do
so, then imagine those kids, who are not supervised or guided by parents? How
seriously their hygiene must be getting compromised, since kids tend to be
careless in these matters. How often they must be falling sick & missing
school! As I voiced my concerns at a
get-together, a friend, working with a primary school, mentioned about “Savlon
Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks” & how it was changing the way school children across
the country were looking at hygiene. The residue from these chalks, upon coming
in contact with water, turned soapy. It was nothing short of magic for the kids
& they were now flocking to the taps to see the “magic” unfold. Instead of
making hand-wash a chore, these guys had made it fun! I admired the great
initiative by the company. A step that I feel, is bound to have long-term
benefits, as good hygiene is the first step towards good health. Lesser
instances of infections means improved attendance across schools. And regular
attendance in school translates into better learning. A simple idea that is
about to change many lives in the most positive way! The initiative has really got
me hopeful about the future of these kids & in turn, towards the future of
the country. Amen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVWUlWEfJ1k
