AN INFECTIOUS disease specialist has reminded the public to practice handwashing as an effective health measure in preventing infections.
“Infection is anywhere; it can happen anywhere. It can happen inside the house or at work. So we always inform the people that prevention always starts at home, then we go to the office, that is where we also practice prevention,” Dr. Yvette Marie Barez, the chair of the Infection Control and Prevention Unit of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
“We always inform people to practice infection prevention, and number one is handwashing.. You wash your hands before you do anything and after you do anything,” Barez said during her guesting at the recent episode of the Healthy Davao Media Forum at SM City Davao.
She also reminded the public to clean anything they touch, such as cellphones.
Dr. Barez said that gadgets harbor bacteria, especially when they are always in the hands of people who have also touched something. There is a possibility they can be infected with gastroenteritis or conjunctivitis from handling cellphones or mobile gadgets that are not clean.
“You must clean your cellphones when you return home or even after using it especially if other people are using your cellphone or kung asa nimo gilapag basig hugaw tong lamesa (where you placed your phone. Maybe it is on a dirty table),” Barez said.
She said that aside from cellphones, people can get infected when they touch doorknobs or elevator buttons.
“If you remember nagkaroon ng H1N1 infection it started in the elevator, nagpush ng button yung maysakit (an infected pushed the button of the elevator),” Barez said. PIA DAVAO