Sponsored Video: Help a Child Reach 5 with Lifebuoy

Let me begin by showing you a video of the beautiful actress Kajol, who is also a mother. Let’s see what she says about being one:

If you’re wondering who she’s talking about, check out this picture:

See the man walking on his hands with his feet in the air? That’s Gondappa. If you want to know why he’s walking in this strange manner, check out this video.

If you’re like the woman at the end of the video, you’re also probably wondering why such a fuss is being made just for turning five years old. But when you hear the shocking statistic that over 6 lakh children under the age of 5 die in India every year due to diarrhea and pneumonia, Gondappa’s actions don’t seem so strange anymore.

And to think that these illnesses are preventable not by expensive vaccines or supplements, but simply by the basic act of washing your hands. Why then are so many of our little ones dying? The problem is the lack of awareness; we need this message to reach every mother and father, within the very interiors of every village in India, so that not a single parent has to go through the horror of losing a child to preventable illnesses like diarrhea.

To support the cause of hand washing, Lifebuoy has launched the ‘Help a Child Reach 5’ campaign which aims to eradicate diarrhea, one village at a time. They are in the process of raising funds to support this cause, the proceeds of which will go to Population Services International (PSI), a leading health organization for implementing hand washing programmes. To help get this message across all villages and towns in India, leading actress Kajol has joined hands with Lifebuoy and urges you to help with the cause, because Lifebuoy promises to match every donation made by you with an equal amount from their side.

Also, every time you share the ‘Help a Child Reach 5’ video, Lifebuoy will donate Re 1.00 towards the cause of saving lives through hand washing. Go here to share the video through Facebook or Twitter.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Start with your home – remind everyone to wash their hands before preparing food or eating, and after using the toilet and coming in from outside or at any time as necessary. Also be sure to disinfect toys regularly and wipe down common surfaces like doorknobs and remotes.

Gondappa’s story is sure to move anyone, even if you’re not a parent. As a mother, I completely agree with Kajol when she says, “It is simply not acceptable that a child dies from preventable diseases.” And when that prevention only involves a few moments of washing your hands, we should take a stand as a nation and help eradicate this evil. Please take a few seconds to donate or share this video and do your bit to support the cause. 

This post has been sponsored by Lifebuoy