The Illness to Wellness Foundation, in collaboration with the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), has launched a campaign titled ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ (Healthy Hands, Healthy Childhood) under its ongoing Illness to Wellness initiative.
The campaign, supported by hygiene brand Savlon, focuses on encouraging proper handwashing practices among children and students in the National Capital Region (NCR). According to the organisers, the initiative is intended to engage students directly and promote hand hygiene habits early in life to help reduce illness and support overall well-being.
As part of its outreach this year, the campaign will be carried out in more than 100 schools, including private, public, and government-run institutions. Organisers said the initiative aims to engage and educate around 40,000 students. This follows last year’s effort, which reached over 30,000 students across 35 schools. The expansion is expected to extend awareness of hand hygiene among students while contributing to broader public health awareness in schools and surrounding communities.
Speaking on the campaign, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, "At the Illness to Wellness Foundation, we believe that building a healthy society begins with our children. Through the ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ campaign, in collaboration with PEFI, we aim to equip thousands of young minds with simple yet powerful hygiene habits like regular handwashing. Schools are the ideal setting to cultivate such habits, and by reaching out to students across more than 100 institutions, we hope to inspire lifelong wellness practices. Engaging and interactive methods built into the campaign will ensure that the message stays with them long after it ends. We are not just spreading awareness; we are also encouraging lasting behavioral change that will create a healthier generation and a truly Swasth Bharat.”
To ensure the message resonates with students, the ‘Swasth Haath, Swasth Bachpan’ campaign places emphasis on interactive and experience-based learning. Instead of relying only on traditional lectures, handwashing techniques are introduced through educational videos, quizzes, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive sessions led by health experts. The organisers noted that this approach is intended to encourage long-term behavioural change by making hygiene education both engaging and memorable.
The inaugural programme was held on 6 September 2025 at Balvantray Mehta Vidya Bhawan, Greater Kailash–II, New Delhi, with more than 300 students in attendance. The event included a presentation on proper handwashing techniques in line with WHO guidelines, delivered by experts. Volunteers and members of PEFI and the Illness to Wellness Foundation assisted with logistics, student participation, and programme execution.
Highlights of the event included a handwashing awareness quiz and a selfie booth created to reinforce learning in an interactive manner. Hygiene kits were distributed to all participating students at the conclusion of the programme.
The Illness to Wellness Foundation (ITWF), established in 2014, focuses on holistic well-being by raising awareness through health education, sustainable hygiene, and lifestyle interventions. The Illness to Wellness campaign promotes preventive healthcare and community engagement, working with various partners to advance its objectives.
