Bida Solusyon sa COVID-19

Ronella P. Sanchez

THE Departments of Education and Health are calling on everyone to do their share to fight the COVID-19 virus today and ensure better health outcomes beyond the pandemic.

This is part of the DOH’s Bida Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign, which aims to reinforce and enable key preventive behaviors, which include hand hygiene or cleaning of hands through handwashing with soap and water or sanitizing with alcohol-based hand rub.

To achieve the DOH’s objectives, all sectors – local officials and authorities, local health workers, teachers, parents and community members – must renew their commitment. This will save lives and reduce illness. It is in combining expertise in health, education, communication and community knowledge that there is awareness and promotion of hygienic and safe practices.

DOH has been promoting handwashing practice as an integrated part of their health programs under the umbrella concept of total sanitation to promote frequent and proper hand washing, among others.

According to the DOH and DepEd, handwashing with soap is key in the fight against COVID-19 as it destroys the outer membrane of the virus and thereby inactivates it.

One study shows that regular handwashing with soap can reduce the likelihood of common coronavirus infection by 36%. Based on 2019 data, over 7 million Filipinos are unable to wash their hands due to lack of access to a handwashing facility, water, and/or soap. From school year 2018-2019 data, only half of schools have at least one group handwashing facility with soap.

Because handwashing is critical to children’s health and development, it should be within reach of children and families, especially the most vulnerable. There is a need for sustained investments to make hand hygiene a practice beyond the pandemic.

That is why this partnership of DepEd and DOH in bringing together a national handwashing roadmap is a critical step towards a safer future for children in the Philippines, according to their partner UNICEF.

There is a present lack of access to hand hygiene facilities not just in homes but in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public spaces. Awareness and knowledge around handwashing may be high, but actual practice is still lower.

Another study shown by the DepEd and UNICEF among school children reveals that less than 8% did actually wash their hands after using the toilet, even when a handwashing facility with soap and water was available.

This issue therefore is a detriment to public health and safety and requires structural change. The whole of society and the government should also act together on this issue.

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The author is ESHT-III at Apalit Elementary School, Floridablanca, Pampanga