Proper hand hygiene is our first line of defence against infections
Amidst the pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), one advice health authorities around the world have been repeating is to wash hands frequently.
There is a reason behind this advice: handwashing, especially when done correctly, is one of the easiest ways to protect us and others from the spread of illnesses, be it the common cold or serious infections such as meningitis, hepatitis A and various forms of diarrhoea.
This is due to exposure to germs, including viruses and bacteria, onto our hands; they can be transferred to food, drinks, objects, another person, and our eyes, nose and mouth if we do not wash our hands.
By practising proper hand hygiene, we remove germs and dirt, thereby stopping them from coming into contact with others, especially individuals who are susceptible to infections.
Therefore, it is important to know when and how to wash our hands, as well as encouraging others to do the same, so that together we can prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases like Covid-19.
