Handwashing TV ad

Dewan Chand, Suva I write to commend the efforts of the designers of the TV advertisement Make Hand Washing A Habit. This is most appropriately designed and artistically crafted to attract the attention of the children in particular and the general public. Yes, the habits formed in childhood do not die easy. Good habits are encouraged and bad habits are discouraged by the parents, teachers and friends, so parents buckle up and help your child in forming hygienic handwashing habits.

This is best done by setting a good example and providing necessary facilities such as hand basins with soap, hand towels etc. Schools could do much in promoting this excellent personal hygiene habit.

Can schools provide toilet papers, liquid soap and hand towels? Can the Ministry of Education help in this regard because this will be an expensive exercise, but worth considering?

I assume this advertisement has the backing of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services because it promotes their agenda.

Health officials have always pontificated about the need to lead healthy lifestyles in view of the meteoric rise of killer diseases in our communities.

However, the ground reality does not match the word projected in the advertisement. At the CWM Hospital the toilets are generally in a filthy condition despite the workers cleaning it. There is no provision for toilet papers, hand washing soap or hand towels. The taps in the male toilet on the ground floor are left unattended for long.

Once I asked the security at the reception desk for toilet paper and he told me that visitors have to bring their own toilet papers! This is beyond belief !

I am a regular visitor to the National Diabetes Centre, which is housed in a dilapidated colonial building with very poor facilities all around.

The public toilet has no hand basin, no soap and no hand towels or electric hand dryers. Where do you expect the patients and visitors who go to the NDC to wash their hands? This place is very neglected and the Health Ministry needs to look at this matter urgently. I am a proud Fijian and I want our health facilities to be of an acceptable standard.