Wash your hands to beat the flu, but where’s the soap and water?
TNN | Nov 10, 2018, 08.57 AM IST
CHENNAI: The state public health department campaigns that washing your hands properly is one of the most effective ways of preventing viral infections including H1N1. Yet most public places such as schools, theatres, hospitals and workplaces, including government offices, do not have soap in washrooms.
“It may seem extremely simple, but hand wash saves lives. Dispensers with soap should be made mandatory in all public places,” said former director of public health Dr S Elango.
“We must have soap dispensers and posters on how to wash using soap in all washrooms, particularly schools. Children are more vulnerable to flu compared to adults. Teachers should spend time teaching children the right way to wash hands and the importance of hand hygiene,” he said.
Public health experts, who have been touring the state, say most people affected with viral infections such as H1N1 were the elderly or persons with co-morbid conditions who had gone on pilgrimages or to crowded public places.
“Sometimes, they bathe in common water sources, share toiletries and rooms. When they don’t wash their hands or scrub themselves with sanitisers they can fall ill and spread the illness,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy.
In most fever wards of public hospitals, doctors have left bottles of disinfectants for patients, relatives and visitors.
A poster on how to wash and scrub the hands has also been put up in most hospitals. “Most people, including adults, tend to rush through the hand wash. If they do not follow the right method, we teach them how to do it,” said Institute of Child Health director Dr A T Arasar Seeralar.
TNN | Nov 10, 2018, 08.57 AM IST
CHENNAI: The state public health department campaigns that washing your hands properly is one of the most effective ways of preventing viral infections including H1N1. Yet most public places such as schools, theatres, hospitals and workplaces, including government offices, do not have soap in washrooms.
“It may seem extremely simple, but hand wash saves lives. Dispensers with soap should be made mandatory in all public places,” said former director of public health Dr S Elango.
“We must have soap dispensers and posters on how to wash using soap in all washrooms, particularly schools. Children are more vulnerable to flu compared to adults. Teachers should spend time teaching children the right way to wash hands and the importance of hand hygiene,” he said.
Public health experts, who have been touring the state, say most people affected with viral infections such as H1N1 were the elderly or persons with co-morbid conditions who had gone on pilgrimages or to crowded public places.
“Sometimes, they bathe in common water sources, share toiletries and rooms. When they don’t wash their hands or scrub themselves with sanitisers they can fall ill and spread the illness,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy.
In most fever wards of public hospitals, doctors have left bottles of disinfectants for patients, relatives and visitors.
A poster on how to wash and scrub the hands has also been put up in most hospitals. “Most people, including adults, tend to rush through the hand wash. If they do not follow the right method, we teach them how to do it,” said Institute of Child Health director Dr A T Arasar Seeralar.
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