http://sgforums.com/forums/2100/topics/269343 en-US 60 <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Singapore's Happy Toilets, thanks to the young</span></strong><br /> <br /> "When you pee … don’t play a fool!” may not be the best way to greet your VIP, but that's what some 100 pre-schoolers did when Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan dropped by their kindergarten at the launch of the “Happy Toilet School Education for Pre-schools (HTSEP)” programme.<br /> <br /> The idea may stink to some, but considering the number of health risks on the rise, getting the young to learn good habits can't go to waste.<br /> <br /> The HTSEP programme includes the latest initiative, which is a "Loo Rap" reminding children, "For clean and healthy, lovely loos, here are some things you should do." There's also a “Wash Your Hands to Fight Nasty Germs” jingle which teaches pre-schoolers the proper way to wash their hands.<br /> <br /> The agent of change is the Singapore's Restroom Association(RAS).<br /> <br /> Explaining the need for the programme, its President Ms Tan Puay Hoon said "Besides instilling the right social values in these young children,the HTSEP hopes to reduce the risk of communicable diseases such as Hand,Foot &amp; Mouth Disease (HFMD) and gastric flu in the pre-school community.”<br /> <br /> WIth a similar view is Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District. “With increased incidence of dengue cases and HFMD, there is a rising need to educate our residents on the importance of Public Health," said Dr Teo.<br /> <br /> The event at a pre-school in Sembawang was jointly organised by the North West Community Development Council(CDC) and Singapore's Restroom Association(RAS)as part of the North West community's Green Festival.<br /> <br /> It was the first roll-out of the “Happy Toilet School Education for Preschools" programme which will eventually reach out to more than 5,000 students in the North West District.<br /> <br /> "Through this programme, RAS hopes the pre-schoolers will bring along with them these good toilet manners when they grow up and inspire others to be responsible toilet users too,” says the President of the RAS.<br /> <br /> Every wee bit helps. - CNA/sf</p> Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:34:27 +0800 sgforums.com:2100:269343:6869115 SMRT Buses http://sgforums.com/forums/2100/topics/269343