Hand hygiene — a must for all
WELTHUNGERHILFE ( WHH) and its partners across the whole world are happy to commemorate this year’s Global Hand Washing Day with the Global Theme Hand Hygiene for All. In Zimbabwe, with funding from a number of internal and external donors such as Unicef, GIZ, Charity: Water, just but to mention a few, WHH continues to work with all stakeholders and the community at large to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ( WASH) services delivery systems in both urban and rural areas.
This year, WHH Zimbabwe is happy to share this note with the general public in order to increase their understanding regarding hand hygiene. It is our hope that after going through this note people will pledge starting today and ever that they will wash their hands with soap or any detergent following all the necessary hand washing steps.
Important realities about hand hygiene
Hand washing is one of the key pillars for effective personal hygiene. Effective hand washing has been proven scientifically to be one of the most effective ways of preventing communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and the current COVID-19.
The significance of washing hands has given rise to the commemoration of the Global hand washing day, an annual event which is held on October 15. This year we celebrate this great event under the theme Hand Hygiene for All.
The global campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about washing hands with soap as a key factor in disease prevention. Respiratory and intestinal diseases can be reduced by 25%-50% through the washing of hands.
Through modelling and data‐driven simulations, a study recently conducted by MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology] to identify the effectiveness of hand washing as a strategy for personal hygiene towards the reduction of global epidemic risk shows that;
If 60% of travellers moving through airports worldwide had clean hands, global disease spread could be curbed by almost 70%. And if this rate could be maintained in only 10 of the busiest airports internationally, an astounding 37% of infections could be prevented.
Hand-washing can prevent about 30% of diarrhoea-related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections.
Some scientists go as far to argue that 80% of diseases can be prevented by proper hand washing
https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/its-true-washing
Why is the hand that important?
The hand indeed is one of the most important part of the body for the survival of human beings. The hand is involved in different kinds of tasks and activities of which some of these activities involves handling clean or filthy materials or platforms. These activities range from gathering and preparing food to cleaning and caring for the body and the environment and hence the hand is not spared from contamination.
For this reason, it is important that we pose and take a moment to reflect and remind each other why hand hygiene is a key component of human health. It is prudent that water used for hand washing be adequate and clean. The washing of hands is a process that needs proper concentration for best results.
Often, people wash their hands hurriedly and without following all the prescribed steps which in most cases defeats the intended results. Hand-washing entails rubbing and turning of hands extending from the tip of fingers to the wrist area, taking note of the palms, in between the fingers, back of the hand, inside the nails, the arm area and the wrist joints. From this description it is clear that Hand WASH is a special exercise or art and hence we all need to practice this regularly to ensure we internalise the whole exercise.
For proper personal hygiene, fingernails should be kept short to discourage the harbouring of germs and keep the hands undoubtedly clean. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following five step approach to washing hands:
1) Wet your hands and turn off the tap (to save water),
2) Lather,
3) Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, 4) Rinse, and
5) Air Dry or use disposal towels.
This year our theme says Hand Hygiene for All’, implying it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure every hand is kept clean. Hand washing comes without its own challenges. In third world countries where potable water is scarce, many people end up using dirty water for domestic purposes and the hands are the last thing to be washed. In such circumstances, the use of sanitisers come in handy notwithstanding the cost involved.
It is, however, important to note that the use of hand sanitisers should be done following the laid down instructions to avoid adverse effects. Where there is adequate clean water, it is advisable to wash hands with running water and soap than to use hand sanitisers. Hand washing should be done during but not limited to the following times.
Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhoea
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
Indeed, as suggested by our current 2020 theme, hand hygiene remains the most affordable and most effective tool that everyone can use to eradicate many diseases and infections.
WHH is promoting these Hand Washing practices in various project areas and hence we at WHH Zimbabwe we are saying: Hand hygiene — a MUST for all.
Compiled by: WHH WASH TEAM Zimbabwe
For more information do not hesitate to contact Shadreck. kundishora@welthungerhilfe.de, Odrie.ziro@welthungerhilfe.de, Tendai.Tendere@welthungerhilfe.de and francis.kanda@welthungerhilfe.