Luanda — Angolan Education minister, António Burity da Silva, Wednesday in Luanda, appaled to the population of the country to promote good hygine practices within the family and community, in order to reduce death, mainly among children.

The minister was speaking at Dom Bosco School Complex, in Luanda's high density suburb of Sambizanga, during a celebration of the World Hands Washing Day, October 15, marked for the first time in 62 countries.

According to the official, the practice of hand washing with soap can help save the life of about 47 percent of children in the world.

Burity da Silva mentioned some diseases like respiratory infections, diarrhoea, measless, tetanus and Hiv/Aids as being dierectly associated with scarce quality water.

He called on the students of the whole country to transmit to their parents, neighbours and friends to always wash their hands with soap in order to prevent related death.

The official also appealed to public and private institutions to join the Government effort to provide drinking water to all schools and homes of the country.

The official recalled that the World Hands Washing Day in Angola was preceded by a worm cleansing campaign that reached five million children.

The ceremony that included a collective hands washing was attended by Government members, politicians, church officials, diplomats, Unicef representatives, students and other guests.