At a ceremony to introduce the goodwill ambassador on clean water and rural environmental hygiene in Hanoi on November 30, UNICEF representative chief in Vietnam Lotta Sylwander said millions of children around the world die because of poor environmental hygiene, unsafe water and unsanitary habits.

In Vietnam alone, over 20,000 people, mainly children, are estimated annually to die of diseases relating to unhygienic and poor quality water. Diarrhoea is blamed for half of these deaths.

According to UNICEF, only 18 percent of the country’s rural population is aware of using hygienic latrines to prevent diarrhoea and only 2 percent are aware of the need to wash hands with soap to prevent parasitic diseases.

The ceremony is among a number of activities in an information and education strategy to raise awareness and change behaviours among the Vietnamese rural community in terms of clean water and environmental hygiene. The strategy calls for the people to use clean water, hygienic latrines, collect and treat garbage, and keep breeding facilities on the farm clean and tidy.

Artist Xuan Bac has been appointed goodwill ambassador of the project on clean water and rural environmental hygiene for the 2010-2011 period.

Xuan Bac will take part in communications activities and events within the project through mass media, contributing to education and calling for the participation and action of the community on the issue.