ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas is urging the public, especially children, to practice proper hand washing regularly.
This includes washing hands after touching dirty objects, before meals, before preparing food, after using the restroom, after playing, and after returning home from public places like schools, public transportation, markets, or malls.
This advocacy coincides with the celebration of Global Handwashing Day today, October 15, themed “Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?”
Dr. Ma Femy Japitana, DOH Region 6’s medical coordinator for Environmental and Occupational Health, emphasized the critical role of hand washing in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
“Hand washing is our first line of defense against infectious diseases. Through proper hand washing, we can prevent the transmission of diseases caused by skin contact and contaminated surfaces,” Japitana said.
Proper hand washing involves washing hands for at least 20 seconds using clean water and soap.
“The correct technique involves wetting the hands with clean water, applying soap, rubbing the soap thoroughly, including between the fingers and the back of the hands, and rinsing with clean water. Then, dry the hands with a clean towel or tissue,” Japitana explained.
She advised against using wet wipes as a substitute for proper hand washing, as they do not eliminate
all germs.
According to Japitana, infectious diseases that can be prevented by proper hand washing include COVID-19, influenza, mpox, and food- and waterborne diseases such as acute diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Parasitic infections, like those caused by soil-transmitted helminths such as ascaris, can also be prevented.
Japitana noted a high compliance rate with proper hand washing in the region, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when public awareness on hand hygiene increased.
Many establishments, schools, and restaurants have since installed hand washing stations, and people now wash their hands regularly upon seeing these facilities.
Parents and teachers play a crucial role in teaching children the importance of hand washing, she added.
The DOH continues to remind the public to practice proper hand hygiene, especially after being outdoors.
“Always wash your hands after coming from public places like markets or public vehicles, and before entering your home,” Japitana advised.
To further raise awareness, the DOH-6 has been conducting training on food safety and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Information and educational materials about Global Handwashing Day have also been distributed to provinces and urban areas in the region.
Under the leadership of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, WASH has been included in the department’s 8-point agenda, highlighting the importance of hand hygiene in maintaining public health./PN
