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26 October 2022 Media Release: Kids from Plett Primary School reminded of the importance of clean hands

Media Release: Kids from Plett Primary School reminded of the importance of clean hands

For Immediate Release
26 October 2022

Handwashing with soap and water is one of the most effective ways to minimise the spread of germs. Keeping hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as the common cold or flu.

In honour of this year’s Global Handwashing Day with the theme “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene,” Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) from the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Bitou sub-office, Zoleka Goniwe, Sophia Marthinus and Nokuphiwa Mbali visited Plett Pre-primary School to refresh learners and educators about the importance of washing hands. The topics of “the appropriate times to wash hands” and “how to clean hands properly,” were also discussed.

Global Handwash Day is an annual reminder that handwashing with soap and water is one of the most effective steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. That is why handwashing is essential, especially when preparing a meal, before enjoying a meal, using the bathroom and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. After changing baby nappies and handling waste, hands should also be washed.

In closing, the kids enjoyed an activity demonstrated by the team, to illustrate how hands should be washed. The principal of the facility expressed words of gratitude to the GRDM team for reaching out to the school in the fight against the occurrence of diseases that can be prevented by washing hands properly and often.

Clean hands save lives.

Did you know?

Educating people about handwashing helps them and their communities to stay healthy. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, studies show that handwashing education in the community can:

  • Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhoea by about 23%–40%
  • Reduce the number of school days children missed because of gastrointestinal illness by 29%–57%
  • Reduce diarrhoeal illness in people with weakened immune systems by about 58%
  • Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by about 16%–21%

Feature Image: EHPs from the GRDM Bitou sub-office, Zoleka Goniwe, Sophia Marthinus and Nokuphiwa Mbali with the learners of Plett Pre-primary School during their visit. Zoleka Goniwe (left) and Sophia Marthinus (right), demonstrating the proper handwash techniques to all present.

ENDS