PZ Cussons has launched the Carex Essay Writing Competition in Accra aimed at helping kids write about the hand washing activities they do daily.

The maiden edition of the competition dubbed: "Why l wash my hands regularly" is also for the students to learn the skills of building an argument to convince people on the need to wash their hands regularly.

Speaking at the event to mark the Global Hand Washing Day, Mr Gazie Dector, Head of Brand Development and Activation at PZ Cussons said the Carex brand for the past four years has engaged school children in hand washing activities through school activation programme.

The Global Hand Washing Day is a campaign to motivate and mobilise millions around the world to wash their hands with soap and to raise awareness of hand washing as a key approach to disease prevention.

He said ten ultimate winners stand the chance of becoming Carex brand ambassadors of their schools and enjoy other give-aways.

"The first prize winner will receive GHC1,000, GHC600 for the second place winner and GHC300 for the third place winner in addition to one-year supply of Carex products," he added.

He said every year, PZ Cussons celebrated the Day with a number of schools across the country, indicating that this year the hand washing event was held in over 70 schools.

He said the company decided to celebrate the day with students of Saint Bernadette Soubirous school, Dansoman.

Mr Dector said the competition was opened to students within ages 9 to 15 years, urging head of schools, teachers and parents to encourage their children to participate in the competition.

He said there were other follow-up activities that are planned to ensure that the hand washing behaviors are imbibed in the school children, which the company hoped could influence other children

Dr Frank Serebour, General Secretary, of the Ghana Medical Association, engaged the school children in the hand washing steps, its importance and benefits of hand washing with soap and clean running water.

He urged the school children to cultivate the habits of hand washing to prevent diseases and promote good hygiene in school and at home.

On sanitation issues in the country, he said the country has nice bye-laws but its enforcement was the challenge.

Four students were selected to be Carex brand ambassadors with the responsibility of educating their fellow students to wash their hands regularly with soap and clean running water.