HAI Celebrates Hand Hygiene Day

HAI Celebrates "Hand Hygiene Day"
5^th May 2014

Hotel Association of India launched its first "Hand Hygiene Day" on May 5th 2014 across all its member hotels with the following vision:

" To create public awareness among the local communities; schools; orphanages: public institutions; guests; visitors and employees of hotels and people who handle food, about the importance of washing hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer as the simplest and most cost-effective way of promoting community well being through prevention of respiratory illnesses, common cold, influenza and other infections"

Individual member hotels translated this shared vision into action in their own unique and innovative way.

Hotels across the country , created an environment conducive to the significance of the day through a prominent display of posters in different parts of the properties conveying messages like "WASH WITH SOAP LIVE WITH HOPE", "IT TAKES JUST 5 MOMENTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD,CLEAN YOUR HANDS, STOP THE SPREAD OF DRUG RESISTANT GERMS" ; " SAVE LIVES, WASH HANDS."

Member hotels worked with leading providers of sanitation and hygiene solutions like Dettol, Jonhson Diversey on this fantastic task of spreading awareness on hand hygiene. Some member hotels took local NGOs on board in inviting under privileged children to their premises Over snacks and juices, children were encouraged to place their hands under Ecolab scanners Children watched with amazement germs, previously invisible to their naked eyes, moving on their hands. Through live demonstrations and screening videos, children were taught the right technique of washing hands and importance thereof.

To reinforce the teachings, they participated in a competition to draw in their own creative way what they had learnt about hand hygiene. All of them came out winners and were rewarded with chocolates and candles. After being treated to sumptuous meals, the children were given guided tours of the hand hygiene systems followed in the hotel kitchens Each child left with a farewell gift hamper that included hand sanitizers, other goodies, T-shirts etc. Their happy and smiling faces, that spelt the success of this initiative left the HAI members satisfied and rewarded in return. HAI since its inception in 1996 has been successfully organizing activities that demonstrate its engagement with and commitment to the environment and local communities. This initiative is another way of reaffirming the Industry's commitment to the Society.

A few images to mark this significant day in the history of the Association have been shared below