Dear All, Kindly see the attached news on " UNICEF launches `hand washing campaign'" at http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006032312030400.htm&date=2006/03/23/&prd=th&; Diarrhoea causes the death of one child every 30 seconds globally. However the risk of diarrhoeal infection can be reduced by 47 per cent by the simple process of washing your hands with soap. WaterAid India in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday launched a nation-wide campaign to promote hand washing with special emphasis on school children. The launch of the campaign marks the 14th United Nations World Water Day celebrations. The launch of the `hand washing campaign' saw the participation of school children, parents, teachers, Panchayati Raj institutions and members of NGO's. Also present were various experts from the water and sanitation sector, government officials, UNICEF representatives and international NGO leaders. As a build up to World Water Day, a letter-writing competition on the theme "One way in which I can prevent children from getting water-borne diseases'' among school children had also been organised. At the campaign launch event, former cricketer Kapil Dev, presented certificates to winners of the letter writing competition. With best regards & Thanks. P K Upadhyay NIC, New Delhi http://mcitconsortium.nic.in