GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, advises the Sint Maarten community to continue to practice prevention measures on a daily basis as the world observes Global Handwashing Day on Tuesday, October 15.
Global Handwashing Day is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases, the spread of germs and save lives.
Washing hands often reduces the transmission of diseases such as respiratory illnesses such as the flu, common cold and COVID-19.
It is also very important to wash hands with soap before cooking or preparing food, before eating, and before feeding someone (including breastfeeding) or taking care of others ill or not.
Help children to stay healthy by teaching them about handwashing and show them how to properly wash their hands. Wash your hands with clean, running water and soap for 20 seconds, in general, and before and after handling food.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.
Many infections start when hands are contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and viruses. This can happen after using the toilet, changing a child's diaper, coughing, sneezing in your hands, touching other people's hands, taking care of ill persons, and touching other contaminated surfaces.
Handwashing with soap works by removing bacteria and viruses from hands before they get a chance to cause infections or spread to other people. Handwashing stops the spread of germs! Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related sicknesses and one in five respiratory infections.
Join CPS in their efforts to continue to promote proper handwashing in your home, school, or workplace.
For more information, you can call CPS 914, 542-1570 or email cps.healthpromo@sintmaartengov.org
Global Handwashing Day was founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership, and is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times.
https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/CPS-Wednesday-is-Global-Handwashing-Day--Clean-Hands-Healthy-Home,-School-and-Workplace.aspx
