October 15, today (Wednesday), is Global Handwashing Day. This day is gaining international significance since the habit of proper handwashing is directly linked to one’s health especially among school going children.
As several organisations and individuals in Madurai have joined hands to celebrate the day with hands-on support, public health experts and paediatricians have raised a pertinent question of whether schools are providing adequate water in their dining halls and toilets.
S.Elango, former Director of Public Health and State president of Indian Public Health Association, told The Hindu on Tuesday that water availability in toilets in girls schools is a key issue and there must not be any compromise in that.
“This is a dedicated day to inculcate the habit of handwashing with soap. Many diseases are transmitted when we don’t wash our hands. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections can be prevented among boys and girls if the hands are washed properly everyday,” he said.
His appeal to the school managements and to the School Education Department was to ensure that more toilets with water facility are constructed for school girls to maintain menstrual hygiene and good sanitary disposal. Worm infestation, anaemia, malnutrition and diarrhoea are the common health hazards caused by unhygienic hands.
Senior paediatrician S.Naavarasu of Vadamalayan Hospitals too agrees that girls suffer more due to unhygienic conditions.
“Urinary infection is very common among school girls. Hence, every school will have to have clean toilets and adequate water for all children,” he said.
Dr.Naavarasu also pointed out the importance of handwashing by all hospital staff so as to prevent hospital to home transmission of infection. “Staff in hospital wards should wash their hands frequently. It is the best preventive way to ward off infectious diseases. For children, it is essential to get awareness about worm infestation,” he added.
Dr.Elango says that employees in health sector should not confine to just a customary hand wash but follow the prescribed protocol. “There are chances of nurses, lab technicians, doctors and other staff in hospitals carrying germs in their hands,” he added.
The IPHA State president has appealed to the Directorate of Public Health to undertake a sustained campaign on handwashing in rural schools where water is a luxury.
To prevent amoebiasis, school health programmes must be initiated. “Personal hygiene is very important. If there is no hygiene, there is no health. Unfortunately, water is not adequately provided in reputed private schools and we found this in a survey,” Dr.Elango said.
