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Good
 hand hygiene
 a must

THE IMPORTANCE of proper hand washing in our day-to-day lives is often underestimated. Simply put, washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections, viruses and germs. A routine task such as washing our hands is something we all believe we do correctly and one we would fail to see as a complicated undertaking.

However, the recent research showed that hygiene standards in the Middle East are below the global average.

It is important for adults and children alike to know how easy it is to eliminate germs. All it takes is 30 seconds to 1 minute of hand washing with anti-bacterial soap or hand wash to effectively protect against a broad range of bacteria, viruses and fungi. The gross misunderstanding that a quick run under the tap is acceptable to get germ-free hands is being tackled by a regional initiative aiming to educate children and mothers on the benefits of getting your hand washing technique in line with the recommended methods.

Dettol’s ‘Mission for Health’ initiative has already educated thousands of children and mothers across the region on the benefits of hand hygiene and continues to raise awareness by going directly into schools, children’s play areas, hospitals and other locations to try and help encourage proper hand washing in the region.

‘Mission for Health’ wants to see a decrease in cases of cold and flu and diarrhoea amongst children, days missed from illness off school and work, and going forward, a greater understanding that families will make part of their routine, every day.

An omnibus survey conducted in September 2012 by the ‘Mission for Health’ flagged some concerning statistics.

A total 36 per cent of those surveyed from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia took more than two days off in the last year due to illness, with a further 8 per cent admitting to taking off more than seven days in the same time period. Similarly, 20 per cent of children also missed more than four days off school in the last academic year.

An earlier study from May 2012 similarly showed significant room for improvement, with only 28 per cent of people surveyed washing their hands with anti-bacterial soap more than six times a day and 2 per cent not washing their hands with soap at all.

A total of 18 per cent of Middle Easterners also admitted that hand washing is not a priority for them. Interestingly, specific groups in society such as men, people aged 65 years and over, and manual workers were highlighted as those in need of more encouragement to improve their hygiene standards.

The Arab Hygiene Council (AHC) has expressed its support to Dettol’s ‘Mission for Health’ initiative. The mission focuses on the core aspects that the AHC believes in; education and community involvement in order to raise hygiene standards in the region.

The AHC is a think tank of leading experts who recognise and promote the fact that improved hygiene practices lead to better health.

The Mission for Health will remind general public that a very simple and cost-effective method is out there to help us to stave off illness and infection. Proper and regular hand washing is a significant tool when it comes to keeping families healthy and germ-free.

• Dr. Hanan Shaban is the Medical Marketing Manager for Reckitt Benckiser Middle East.