15 October: Global Hand Washing Day

“Did you washed your hands?”: Since childhood, we are listening to this question from our parents, friends, and family members very often. Whatever we do the whole day, we came in contact with germs and dirt frequently. It’s easy to get a contaminated infection with dirty hands. And so, no matter what you touch, from telephone to toilet, washing hands is important after every work…!

The current health crisis has made everyone realize the importance of maintaining personal hygiene is simple Hand-washing. Hand Washing is an easy way to prevent infection, especially during these covid19 times. When the COVID-19 pandemic began and little was known about the novel coronavirus, one of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s first recommendations was a simple: hand washing…! During this pandemic time, we realize that one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of viruses is hand hygiene. To beat the virus and ensure our safe future Hand washing must be our priority. This handwashing persists as one of the most important ways, alongside masks, to prevent COVID-19 infection.

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

The theme of Global Handwashing Day 2020 is ‘Hand Hygiene for All’. The theme is primarily to urge people across society to achieve universal hand hygiene.

The first Global Handwashing Day was held in 2008 when over 120 million children from around the world washed their hands with soap in more than 70 countries. Since 2008, leaders have used the day to spread awareness about handwashing, building sinks, and to demonstrate the value of clean hands.

A new study from Tork, an Essity brand, shows that close to eight out of 10 respondents wash their hands to protect themselves.

( Source : ReadEssity 2020 Hygiene and Health Survey)

• A survey suggest that 72% people feel more secure knowing people around them had washed their hands properly. By that way we can assume our psychological state about Hand washing.
• Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting infected and spreading illness.
• Better New Normal: When re-opening after Lockdown or attracting customers, hand hygiene practices have now become essential to making customers feel safe and secure.
• We need to understand that to wash our hands not only to protect ourselves but also to help others feel secure and stay healthy.
• Washing your hands properly can help prevent the spread of the germs (like bacteria and viruses)
• Before eating or touching food (like if you’re helping cook or bake, for example)
• After using the bathroom.
• After blowing your nose or coughing
• After touching pets
• Before and after visiting a sick relative or friend
• After smoking
• After handling rubbish or working in the garden
• Shaking hands with others should be avoided but if you do then sanitize and clean with soap and water after that.
• Wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

Barriers to proper handwashing:

As so many countries don’t have enough water to drink, hand washing is very crucial subject for them. Almost 40% of the world’s population, do not have a handwashing facility with soap and water at home. Annually, around 289,000 children under 5years of age die from diarrheal diseases partly caused by the inability to wash their hands with soap.

WHO says in one report that:

“Although awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in preventing infection with the COVID-19 the virus is high, access to hand hygiene facilities that include alcohol-based hand rubs, as well as soap and water, is often suboptimal in the community and in health care facility settings, especially in low-and middle-income countries. WHO and UNICEF estimate that globally 3 billion people lack hand hygiene facilities at home and two out of five health care facilities lack hand hygiene at points of care. “

How to wash your hands properly:

According to UNICEF, here’s how a person should wash their hands properly:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap.
• Apply soap and lather well for 20 seconds (or longer if the dirt or stain is heavy).
• Rub hands together rapidly across all surfaces of your hands and wrists.
• Don’t forget the backs of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.
• If possible, remove rings and watches before you wash your hands, or ensure you move the rings to wash under them, as microorganisms can exist under them.
• Rinse well under running water and make sure all traces of soap are removed.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them
• It is best to use paper towels (or single-use cloth towel).
• Dry under any rings, as they can be a source of future contamination if they remain moist.
• Hot air driers can be used.

A study suggests that handwashing with soap and water can prevent 1 in 3 people from getting sick with diarrhea and 1 in 5 people from suffering from respiratory illness.

Protect your hands:

Constantly washing our hands with soap and rubbing in hand sanitizer can make our hands feel rough. Now as winter is approaching us, taking care of hands is essential too. Here are some tips to protect your skin:

After washing your hands, pat they dry with a clean towel but leave them slightly damp.

To lock the moisture, apply petroleum jelly or moisturizer thoroughly to your palm, nail, and fingers.

Bee wax, coconut oil, cow ghee, or Sesame oil are better options to apply as a natural source of moisturizer. Apply them before bed will make your skin softer.

Don’t use sanitizer which is loaded with heavy fragrances, as chemicals are added to them for enhancing fragrances.

Use a natural moisturizer, avoid heavy chemical based products to avoid irritation.

In this stressful atmosphere of the Covid19 pandemic, it’s easy to forget basic essential things. But encouraging others and own self for taking precautionary measures is more important by any means. And so cultivate the habit of proper handwashing and motivates others for the same too is need of the time. Understand that you are too part of this mission of hygiene and you can be a role model. Active participation in Handwashing is an essential health solution to make a better healthy world, and remember you are contributing too…!

To read more such articles on Health and Ayurveda by Dr.Jigar Gor, Please Visit: www.msayurved.com

Originally published at https://www.thelitthings.com.