THE Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) is now visiting schools in Davao City to promote and demonstrate proper handwashing to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa Dabaw, Dr. Marie Yvette C. Barez, infectious diseases specialist at the SPMC, revealed that they have recently launched this project in partnership with the City Government of Davao, complementing the local government’s initiative of putting up handwashing stations in every school across the city.
“We have a project in SPMC where we teach young children in schools the proper way of handwashing. We started it in Agdao, but this initiative will not be limited to Agdao alone,” Dr. Barez said.
She added, “We are coordinating with the City Government so that we can extend the campaign to other public and private schools in the city, especially as they begin installing handwashing stations in these schools.”
Importance of proper handwashing
With the emergence of infectious diseases, Barez reiterated the importance of proper handwashing to prevent the spread and contraction of infectious diseases.
This includes washing hands after using the toilet, before and after eating or preparing food, and even after using mobile phones or touching objects that are frequently touched by people in public places.
Barez explained that fomites are a common way diseases are transmitted.
Fomites are objects and surfaces frequently touched by people, such as doorknobs, elevator buttons, and cellphones, which can carry and spread infectious organisms from one person to another.
Barez explained that proper handwashing involves using soap and water for a specific period of time to ensure that all areas of the hands, such as the palms, fingers, nails, and wrists, are thoroughly cleaned. She added that there is no specific type of soap required; all kinds of soap do well in hand cleaning.
While handwashing with soap and water may not always be practical after every contact with fomites, Barez advised the public to carry alcohol or alcogel with them. This way, they can sanitize their hands immediately after touching commonly used surfaces or objects.
“Dapat naa kay balon, kung wala kay tubig ug sabon naa kay balon na alcohol or alcogel, so that you can always clean your hands (If you don’t have water and soap, you should have alcohol or alcogel so that you can always clean your hands),” she said.
Barez shared that common illnesses linked to contact with unsanitized objects include gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that typically causes diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever, and conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” which is characterized by redness, itchiness, and watery eyes.
She also highlighted that handwashing is essential in preventing emerging infectious diseases such as monkeypox; hand, foot, and mouth disease, and influenza, among others. PIA DAVAO
