Introduction

Our hands are one of the most- frequently use part of the body. It is responsible for virtual all sorts of activities that we engage in. What work you think of - cooking, weeding, writing, typing, carrying and holding objects - is done with the hand. We use the same hand to eat, clear dirt from the eye, pick our nose and so many other things. It explains why it is very easy to transmit germs and bacteria from the hand into our body.

Washing our hands regularly is probably the cheapest and most neglected medicine ever. That is because when they hands are regularly washed, we avoid transmitting bacteria that causes illness into our body. In this presentation, I will talk about the following:

• What is the proper way to wash your hands?
• When should you wash your hands
• Why is using running water and liquid soap the best?
• If there is no running water from a tap, what should you do?
• What are some diseases that can be prevented by washing hands regularly?
• Do people in your area wash hands regularly?
• What can be done to create more awareness for hand-washing?

Alright let us quickly start with the first item on the list.

What is the proper way to wash your hands

People wash hands in many ways. Some wash their hands with just water poured into a container. Other people wash hurriedly without soap especially when they are hungry. Some do not remember to wash hands at all. But when it comes to washing hands properly, many health experts agree on the following recommendations:

• First of all remove all jevelry such as ring and bangle from your hands.
• Wet your hands with little running water preferably from a tap
• Apply some quantity of liquid soap or bar soap and scrub all parts of the hand including the fingers and back of the hand for at least 20 seconds
• Rinse your hands will sufficient, clean running water until the hand is washed clean of any soap particles
• Use a neat towel to dry your hands.

If you follow the above steps, you would have washed your hands the proper way.

When should you wash your hands?

Most people only remember to wash their hands when they want to eat. And most times, they do it the wrong way. The short answer here is that you should wash your hands as often as possible, or several times within the day. While there is no universal hand-washing timetable, you should not forget to wash your hands properly before or after the following activities:

• Immediately you finish blowing your nose, wash your hands
• Before you start handling or preparing food
• Wash your hands immediately after using the toilet
• Nursing mothers should quickly wash their hands after changing the diaper of their babies
• If you take care of a sick patient or family member, remember to wash your hands
• Before you insert your fingers into the eye or nostrils, please wash your hands

The above and many other activities can lead to directly transmitting germs into the body or food if the hands were not properly washed.

_{From Pixabay}

Why is using running water and liquid soap the best

Many people use bar soap to wash their hands, which is not actually wrong. However, some health experts recommend liquid soap because it forms lather easily which help to remove bacteria and dirt as you scrub your hands. Additionally, some liquid soaps contain ethanol which also helps to kill any germs or backteria on the hand. However, whether you use bar soap or liquid soap, the most important thing is that you should use soap when washing your hands.

Running water is the recommended water to be used for washing hands. Some people pour water into a bowl and wash from there. This is very wrong. Washing from a source like the bowl does not wash away the dirt and germs on the hand. Running water carries away the germs and dirt and makes your hand to be clean completely. So always try to wash from running water and not pour into a bowl.

If there is no running water from a tap, what should you do?

_{From Pixabay}

Running water is recommended for proper hand-washing. However, one may not always be close to a tap from which to get running water. in that case, it is recommended that you improvise. For example, you can have a friend or family member pour water on your hands as you wash them. They can pour water from a bowl. Alternative, you can use a water container or water bottle to fill up water which can be used to wash hands.

The above are suggestions that can work anywhere. The bottom line is that you use running water. Whether its from a tap, bowl, bottle or other containers, try to wash your hands with running water.

What are some diseases that can be prevented by washing hands regularly?

As your hands is used to handle almost everything, it comes in contact with germs that can then be transmitted to the body, causing illness. The more we are exposed to humans, animals and other objects that have germs on them, the more like we will contract germs when we touch them. Many illnesses and diseases can be prevented by simply washing your hands. Some of them are:

• Common cold
• Corona virus
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory infections
• Eye infections

The above is not a comprehensive list but represents some of the illnessness that can easily be transmitted through contaminated hands.

Do people in your area wash hands regularly?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Regularly washing hands the proper way is not popular in my city Aba. Most people only remember to wash hands when they want to eat. Even at that, they do not wash hands with either soap or running water. Again, they also have a wrong mentality that such dirty hands do not kill Africans. However, the truth remains that many people die or get sick as a result of sicknesses transmitted through dirty hands.

I believe that if we can create more awareness and do proper sensitization on this issue, people will appreciate the health implications of dirty hands, and they will likely improve in this area of hand-washing.

What can be done to create more awareness for hand-washing

• Government sensitization workshops: The government has a lot of work to do in order to create awareness. From time to time, they need to organize workshops especially in rural areas. In these workshops, they should be able to teach participants the importance of washing hands and the proper way to do it. Such regular gatherings will be a great avenue to educate the masses on why they should take washing hands serious.

• Television/Radio Commercials: From time to time, public and private organizations, especially those in the health sector should sponsor Radio and TV commercials that educate the viewers and listeners the importance of washing hands. The more people hear or see these commercials regularly, the more they are likely to take hand-washing serious.

• Health practitioners: Doctors, nurses and other health professionals should take the lead in educating their patients on the importance of washing hands regularly. I believe they have a lot of work to do in this regard. When they recommend regular hand-washing as part of medicine, their patients are going to gradually imbibe the culture.

• Hand-washing stations: The Government or even well-meaning individuals and organizations should install hand-washing units especially in public places. All the amenities needed for washing hands properly should be made available such as running water, soap, and non reusable towels. This would be another great way to created this awareness.

Conclusion

Washing the hands regularly should be part of your hygiene routine. When you do that, you save money on hospitals bills. You and your family will stay healthy and strong too. Lets wash our hands regularly - everyday!!