The Cardinal Health Foundation has awarded US$35,000 (Php1.6 million) to Save the Children Philippines to support health and hygiene needs of learners in Rizal province to ensure their health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cardinal Health Foundation is the charitable arm of Cardinal Health, a global integrated healthcare services and products company headquartered in Dublin, Ohio that provides customized solutions for hospitals, health systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, and physician offices worldwide.

“Cardinal Health and Save the Children Philippines have the shared goal of promoting proper health and nutrition, and we’re proud to support this important work,” said Shane Abeyratne, Country Managing Director of Cardinal Health International Philippines.

Save the Children Philippines will use the funds to set up handwashing facilities in some 15 public elementary schools in the province of Rizal, and provide age-appropriate personal hygiene supplies to learners, including adolescent female school children

The grant will also benefit Save the Children Philippines’ All Kids School Health Involvement and Empowerment (All Kids SHINE) program which provides support to the local government of Rizal for the health and hygiene needs of children from poor families, and those living in remote areas, including the Dumagat Indigenous Peoples community.

Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines urged the local governments to ensure the health and safety of children, including school-age children to ensure continued learning. Data from the Department of Education (DepEd) revealed that more than half of all public schools in the country have limited or no access to water supply.

“Children are among the most vulnerable to diseases and infection, including COVID-19. We are thankful to the philanthropic support of Cardinal Health Foundation to help improve and protect the health of Filipino learners, especially in these critical times,” said Muyot.

He emphasized that hand hygiene is life-saving and key to helping children and their families stay healthy during the pandemic.

Save the Children Philippines will also conduct health awareness sessions to educate children and their families on the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other life-threatening diseases.