A simple habit like washing hands with soap can prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases among children such as pneumonia, diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, the AIM recorded. World Hand Washing Day is celebrated every 15 October and this year’s theme is: “United for Universal Hand Hygiene”.
On World Handwashing Day, which is celebrated at the initiative of UNICEF in more than 60 developing countries, specialists agree that this practice is one of the most important hygiene behaviors when it comes to reducing risk of infection by viruses and bacteria.
The importance of washing your hands
Prevents diarrheal diseases.
Reduces the transmission of respiratory diseases.
Reduces the incidence of skin diseases.
It fights eye infections such as trachoma.
It reduces the incidence of intestinal infections such as ascariasis and tricuriasis.
When should we wash our hands?
Prior to:
Prepare your food or eat it.
Treat a wound or take care of someone who is sick.
Put on or take off contact lenses.
After:
Go to the bathroom.
Blow your nose, sneeze or cough.
Handle raw food, especially meat.
Handle the garbage.
Caring for someone who is sick or for babies.
Change diapers.
Touching animals or handling their droppings.
Play sports or gymnastics.
Go to a public place: hospitals, schools, among others.
The purpose of World Hand Washing Day is to mobilize and motivate millions of the planet’s inhabitants to wash their hands with soap and water.
Washing hands with soap is one of the most effective and economical ways to prevent diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, among other things, which together kill an estimated 3.5 million children each year.
Children are particularly vulnerable to diseases caused by inadequate sanitation and inadequate hygiene practices. More than 5,000 children under the age of five die every day from diarrheal diseases, due in part to contaminated water, lack of basic sanitation and poor hygiene practices.
By washing their hands with soap and water, families and communities can help reduce childhood morbidity rates from diarrheal diseases by nearly half.
To achieve this decline, as well as large-scale, community-sensitive sustainable change, it is essential to establish partnerships with national and local governments, international and non-governmental organizations, religious and community leaders, schools and the private sector.
School is an ideal environment to spread the habit. Children who learn good hygiene practices in school can become agents of change by spreading the messages they have learned to members of their families and communities.
This hygiene practice, especially if done after going to the bathroom or before eating, can have important positive effects on health and survival, and help reduce the rate of child mortality and poverty.
How to wash your hands properly
Here are some simple steps to remove germs from our hands. Demonstrate this routine to your child or, better yet, wash your hands with your child several times a day so that he learns the importance of this habit.
Wash your hands with warm water. Make sure the water isn’t too hot for little hands
Use the soap and scrub your hands vigorously for 15-20 seconds (you don’t have to use antibacterial soap, any soap is fine). Make sure you thoroughly wash the area between your fingers and under your nails where germs like to hide. Don’t forget the dolls! Rinse your hands and dry them well with a clean, dry towel.
The motto for 2022 is “United for universal hand hygiene”
It is an opportunity to learn, design, replicate and share creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap and water at critical times, at home, in the community, and around the world.
