PHILIPSBURG–The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), as part of its Safe Holidays Campaign, calls on residents to implement handwashing with soap as one of the most important public health interventions. Handwashing is an important part of keeping food safe and preventing diseases.
Handwashing with soap is an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. To reach this goal, handwashing must be practised at key times, such as before preparing food or eating, after using the toilet or sneezing. Behaviour change is essential for making handwashing a habit.
It is very important to wash hands with soap before cooking or preparing food, before eating, and before feeding someone (including breastfeeding). Contamination of food can lead to a wide range of illnesses and outbreaks, many of which are particularly dangerous for young children and people with compromised immune systems.
Handwashing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent these diseases. 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, touching other people’s hands, 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.
For more information call CPS, tel. 542-1322, 1122, 1222 or 542-1570.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83944-cps-prevent-infections-this-holiday-season-by-handwashing
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