The City’s Environmental Health Service put a group of Grade R learners through their paces in a hand washing exercise to mark Global Handwashing Day.

‘Washing hands properly, with soap and water, is acknowledged as one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs, and this was re-emphasised during the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s imperative that we hold onto those hand hygiene habits that became more commonplace over the past two years, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from other health risks. The sooner we start entrenching these habits, the better, which is why our education and awareness outreaches are so often directed at schools and ECDs. Children can be great ambassadors for this very important cause,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.

In order to be better prepared for any future increases in infectious diseases, the practice of hand hygiene must become an essential  part of daily life for all  Capetonians.

This is especially important in the most vulnerable communities where increased risk from diseases exist due to environmental conditions.

In order to support communities to protect their health, the public and private sectors and civil society must work together to enable a culture of hygiene by ensuring that all people have access to the supplies they need to clean their hands as often as needed.   

Between July and September 2022, the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners conducted 280 handwashing outreach activities across the metropole and during October another 58 interventions specifically targeted at the importance of correct hand washing techniques will be completed to support the need for hand hygiene to become normalised and habitual.

In line with the need for universal hand hygiene approach, representatives of City Health, Libraries, SOS, Lush, and Dischem joined learners at Cavalleria Primary in Scottsdene in role-play on the eve of Global Handwashing Day to emphasise the ability of handwashing to save lives.

‘On this Global Hand Washing Day, we encourage everyone to heed the call by the United Nations, and to wash their hands during critical points of the day at least for 20 seconds, as it is a proven affordable way to prevent spread of diseases. This becomes even more critical as we head into the warmer months, which is generally associated with an increase in gastro-enteritis or the stomach flu, as it’s commonly referred to,’ said the Portfolio Committee Chairperson for Community Services and Health, Councillor Ronel Viljoen.

KEY TIMES TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Before, during, and after preparing food

Before and after eating food

Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

Before and after treating a cut or wound

After using the toilet

After changing nappies or cleaning a child who has used the toilet

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

After handling pet food or pet treats

After touching garbage

Source: City of Cape Town