QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the importance of hygiene, especially through proper washing of the hands, as the country joins in the celebration of Global Handwashing Day on Oct. 15 with the theme “Why Are Clean Hands Important?”
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa highlighted the crucial role of proper handwashing in preventing the spread of infectious disease, promoting public health, and saving lives, especially in vulnerable communities.
He said the department has included water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) as one of its eight priority health outcomes, with the goal of increasing the percentage of the population with access to clean water from 88 percent to 100 percent.
To support the WASH in Schools program of the Department of Education, the DOH provided schools with technical and financial assistance for maintenance and repair of toilets and other water facilities; implementation of handwashing in toilets and handwashing facilities; installation of group handwashing facilities; and daily handwashing drills in schools.
DOH also encouraged local leaders to invest and prioritize hand hygiene, infrastructure, and supplies to improve sanitation and hygiene in communities.
“Local leaders who prioritize access to clean and safe water for everyone in their communities make clean hands the first line of defense against disease,” Sec. Herbosa said.
“In our communities, especially those affected by floods or where access to clean water is a challenge, handwashing with soap saves lives,” he added.
The DOH noted the report of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which showed that clean hands reduce the transmission of diarrhea diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and gastroenteritis by 30 percent and reduce respiratory infections such as colds, flu, COVID-19, and tuberculosis by 20 percent.
Mpox and infection from salmonella and soil-transmitted parasites and worms are prevented by proper handwashing as well, it said.
“The DOH remains committed to promoting hand hygiene as a key health strategy to safeguard the well-being of all Filipinos,” Sec. Herbosa said.
Moreover, DOH is also involved in crafting and refining the Global Guidelines for Hand Hygiene in Community Settings, an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
WHO Representative to the Philippines Rui Paulo said hand hygiene is essential in achieving universal health care, adding, “By prioritizing infection prevention and control, especially through effective hand hygiene, we can significantly enhance quality care and patient safety, ultimately ensuring better health for all.” (PIA DMD)
