MAKE HAND WASHING YOUR BEST FRIEND - by Ejiro D Salubi

We usually hear that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but do you ever wonder if you could do more than an apple a day for your health? Well, you can with hand washing. Here are four reasons why hand washing should be your new favourite habit. The benefits are many, but we wanted to share these top ones.

Hand washing will

• RID YOUR HANDS OF GERMS  

Germs are easily picked up from our everyday surfaces at homes, schools, offices, buses, and markets amongst many other locations. Hand-washing is an effective way to yell out loud “Good Riddance Germs!”

• LIMIT GERM TRAVEL  

We do not only pick up germs from surfaces, but we drop them off as well. Yes! On our friends, family and everyone we come in contact with. Washing our hands is important to limit germ travel. Drive off these unfavourable lingering guests.

• CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

Still wondering if you should get your hands involved? Hand-washing contributes a great deal to a healthier lifestyle. Germs cause infections. Since we frequently touch our eyes, nose and mouth with our hands, we create a pathway for germs to move from our hands to sites which allow germs gain entry into our bodies. This in turn cause infections, such as diarrhoea, flu and many other diseases. Washing our hands stave germs which starve off infections and gives you a healthier you!

• PROTECT THE SICK

You may not be a health care worker but they’re not the only ones who should play a part. Having clean hands around the sick, protects you and the sick person. Clean hands prevent spreading the germs everywhere and helps the sick person not to get worse. All this working together towards improvement in their health.

As we work together to wash our hands with soap and water for minimum 20 seconds (sing "Happy Birthday" twice) we stop germs in their tracks. We prevent infections and therefore reduce the need for medications such as antibiotics. This is in turn helps to reduce the growing burden of antibiotic resistant infections.

When should we wash our hands?

1. after using the toilet
2. before eating
3. when you come back home from the market, work etc
4. before cooking/preparing a meal or handling food
5. after changing a baby’s nappy
6. before and after handling raw meat or other foods
7. after blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing
8. after touching pets, their food/cages
9. before and after treating a wound or cut

With hand-washing we can begin to accept that our future is really in our hands

^{Blog edited by Orode Aniejurengho}

^{Video by Cup of Couple from Pexels}