The Origin of Global Handwashing Day
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has accepted 15 October as “World Handwashing Day”. Global handwashing day is one of the health practices that considered important in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Washing hands with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal diseases and respiratory tract infections. Infections that can cause the death of millions of children in developing countries. It is emphasized by the World Health Organization that the development of hygiene education and hand washing can reduce the cases of diarrhea (diarrhea) by up to 45 percent.
Hand washing is one of the most important practices in order to stay healthy and to be protected from environmental pollutants. Microorganisms that are invisible to our eyes, which we collect by touching our hands with various pollutants. So that we infect by coughing and sneezing, will reproduce if we do not wash our hands. These microorganisms easily infect the food we touch, our eyes, nose and mouth. Microorganisms that enter the body can easily reproduce and lead to the emergence of many diseases. Hand washing protects a society from many of the “major diseases”.
Therefore;
- Before preparing food and before eating;
- After the need for toilet is eliminated;
- When touching the nose;
- When animals are touched;
- After sneezing or coughing;
- When dealing with chemicals, works that pollute hands, and paints;
- When touching garbage and waste, hands should be washed thoroughly.
In addition, people in charge of cooking and food preparation should wash their hands thoroughly after each break, when they touch raw food, and after smoking.
There are rules that must be followed when washing hands. Since the fingers, especially the thumbs, fingers and fingertips, are the most frequently touched points. They contain more microorganisms. According to scientific studies; microorganisms are not removed from the hands if hands are not washed for a certain period of time and with an appropriate technique.
