World Hand Hygiene Day emphasizes the importance of good hand hygiene practices for maintaining good health and well-being globally.

It’s an opportunity to raise awareness about the significance of hand hygiene in preventing diseases, especially in developing countries where access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education may be limited.

It serves as a reminder that simple actions like handwashing with soap and clean water, can have a significant impact on reducing the spread of infectious diseases and improving overall health outcomes.

Effects of Bad Hand Hygiene Practices 

Food & Water Contamination: 

Failure to wash hands before handling food items and water containers, faucets, or water-related activities can transfer pathogens to food and water sources. Consuming contaminated food and water can result in serious illnesses which can also lead to death.

Increased Risk of Infections:

Infections which can be transmitted directly through handshakes and touching of the face or indirect means like touching public areas e.g. doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

It leads to Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) such as surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections. 

It can also lead to the spread of Communicable diseases such as; Norovirus, COVID-19, methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), giardiasis etc. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following steps for proper handwashing: 

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold). 

2. Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces. 

3. Rub your hands together to create a lather. Ensure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. 

4. Scrub each part of your hand mentioned above   for at least 20 seconds. Do this for both hands. 

5. Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water to remove soap and lather. 

6 Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Avoid touching faucets or surfaces after washing. 

It’s important to note that handwashing should be done: 

• Before, during, and after preparing food. 
• Before eating. 
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick. 
• Before and after treating a cut or wound. 
• After using the restroom. 
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. 
• After touching animals or animal waste. 
• After handling garbage or potentially contaminated items. 

Tips to maintain good hand hygiene 

• Regular washing of the hands with soap and water as outlined above. 
• Keep nails clean and short to avoid buildup of germs underneath the fingernails. 
• Use alcohol-based sanitizers in the absence of soap and water. 
• Avoid touching one’s face with unwashed hands to reduce the risk of infecting the body system. 
• Wash your hands after handling items that may be contaminated, such as raw meat, garbage, or pet waste and after touching public surfaces such as handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons. 

At Chayim we encourage everyone to spread the awareness and importance of good hand hygiene and general cleanliness and even implement community-based interventions.  

To book for your test, visit https://store.chayimds.com/tests OR give us a call on 08140704382 or send us an email at [email protected] OR visit us at No 34, Euphrates Street Maitama, Abuja, and take a step towards becoming a healthier you.