The program initiated jointly with the Costa Rican Social Security Institute (CCSS) and the Ministry of Education in May 2006.

Problem: Even though the process of hand cleaning is one of the oldest practices ever, since it is easy, accessible and of low budget in regards to the prevention of transmittable-contagious diseases, the Costa Rican infant population does not have the habit of frequently cleaning their hands.

• General Goal: Educate the Costa Rican school population in the hand cleaning technique as well as in the practice of coughing and sneezing with the purpose of avoiding illnesses such as the flu, rotavirus, tosferina, an eventual epidemic of influenza, within others.
• Specific goals:

• Prepare an academic module on hand cleaning and the coughing and sneezing practice.
• Establish a flexible mechanism that allows sensitizing the educators and administrative personnel on the need of promoting the habit of hand cleaning and the sneezing and coughing practice of the school population.
• Motivate children so they convert into educators in their homes and communities on how to clean their hands and cough and sneeze.

• Methodology:Urban-marginal schools, defined by the Ministry of Education and the CCSS are visited, determining priorities based on problematic areas.

Accompanied by a health specialist (doctor or nurse) and with the assistance of personnel of the Communications Department of the CCSS and Punto Rojo, conferences are given to all the students of the school that is being visited.

Each student is given a Bactex soap and printed material to take to their homes and liquid soap is provided to the teaching staff so it is used in class

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• Campaign coverage: On June, 2007 the following schools have been visited:
  
  

  	Alajuela San Martín / Pueblo Nuevo Carrillos de Poás Barrio San José / Pacto del Jocote La Garita / Turrúcares Siquiares / La Guácima El Coyol / El Coco Villa Bonita/ Montecillos Sabanilla / Itiquís San José Desamparados La Carpio / León XIII         Alajuelita San Sebastián Hatillos / 15 de Setiembre Pavas / Lomas / Rincón Grande Cristo Rey Purral / Ipís / Coronado Tibás Barrio Cuba Guanacaste Liberia Bagaces Cañas Puntarenas Barranca Esparza Limón Centro Siquirres Guácimo Guápiles

Almost 50.000 children and 1600 teaching staff have been trained in a 9 month period.