Schools told: Make handwashing a habit among students

AMID CORONAVIRUS SCARE

As prevention for the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), all government and private schools in Cebu City are urged to allocate classroom period for effective hand hygiene education among students.

The proper hand washing and personal hygiene practices are among the recommended measures by the World Health Organization (WHO), said Councilor Alvin Dizon.

“Our schools play a crucial role in promoting this basic hygiene practice among our students by ensuring that there is time allocated for effective hand hygiene education,” said Dizon.

WHO advised the public to undertake basic protective measures against the outbreak which includes proper hand hygiene or the use of an alcohol-based rub since these simple hygiene practices eliminate the virus in the hands.

Dizon urged all educational institutions to make proper hand hygiene a daily habit for students.

The practice, he said, must be practiced and reinforced in the classroom through effective and creative instructional materials.

He authored the resolution which was approved during the City Council’s regular session on February 19, 2020.

In his resolution, he also urged the administration of both government and private schools to ensure that hand washing facilities are in good working condition and equipped with soap and paper towels or air hand dryers.

“With or without the coronavirus, hand hygiene is critical since our hands are the main pathways of germ transmission,” said Dizon.

According to studies, “the greater the improvement in people’s hand washing habits, the more dramatic the effect on slowing or reducing the spread of many infectious diseases.”

Dizon said the global spread of COVID-19 is a “serious concern” as the death toll already exceeds 1,100 as of February. —