Global Handwashing Day: What is it? And what is its importance?

Weather of Arabia - The World Health Organization estimates that 5,000 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhoea. We can avoid all of this by improving hygiene habits. One simple thing we can do to help improve health is to wash our hands properly with soap and water, as it protects us Washing hands can prevent many diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia (which kills one million children annually), cholera, typhoid fever and other serious diseases.

Washing hands with soap also helps prevent the spread of infections and other viruses including influenza and the Corona virus .

Global Handwashing Day and its importance

Since 2008, Global Hand Washing Day has been observed annually on October 15 to raise awareness of the importance of washing hands with soap and water as an easy, effective and affordable way to prevent disease and save lives.

The cleanliness of the hands and the body is not a personal taste in the Muslim community. Rather, it is a legacy of the prophetic civilization in human hygiene, and an act of worship by which the Muslim draws closer to his Lord.

And because the availability of water services and hygiene tools alone is not enough to change human behavior, it is necessary to remind and raise awareness of the importance of washing hands in order to convince individuals that they have a vital role to play, and some of them need to be reminded and motivate them to persevere in behaviors that protect themselves and others from disease.

The correct way to wash hands with soap and water

In order to achieve the habit of washing hands, the required protection must be done in the correct way, as doctors recommend rubbing the hands well with clean water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Including the outer membrane of viruses (including the Corona virus).

Thus, these molecules encapsulate and carry the remnants of viruses away from our hands with the help of water, in other words, soap molecules make viral particles that are not soluble in water alone, easily soluble in the soap-water mixture and thus can be disposed of from hands.

But your hands have many surfaces and parts that must be reached so that soap can cover each of them to catch germs on them, there are: palms, folds, nails, between fingers, under rings and accessories, if you do it right, 20 seconds Allow enough time to scrub all parts and for the soap particles to do their work in the entire hand.

Does the use of sanitizers dispense with washing hands with soap and water?

Washing hands with soap and water allows killing germs and getting rid of them along with the rest of the dirt on the skin, and this is different from using disinfectants and sterilizers, which are designed to kill germs without removing them from your skin.

Soap contains a surfactant, which gives it the ability to dissolve virus particles and other biological residues, such as mucus and respiratory fluids from an infected person.

The chances of getting into all the nooks and crannies on your skin are better with 20-second sudsing of hands, compared to rubbing your hands with sanitizer.

This also means that any type of soap can get the job done, even dishwashing soap, although these are harsh soaps not intended to be widely used on your hands and can irritate the skin.

And do not forget, your health is your responsibility, so take care of yourself and follow the simple procedure of washing your hands (especially before and after eating and after using the toilet) and be a good role model for your children and those around you, and stay safe and healthy.