Africa-Press – Malawi. Handshaking in Malawi is our traditional form of gesture when greeting each other. We also use hands for other activities such as eating our common meal popularly called nsima. However, how safe are our hands?
It is scientifically proven that hands carry large amounts of pathogens including bacteria. It is therefore recommended that our hands should be cleaned frequently especially when handling food or after any activity that may have contaminated them. In our homes and workplaces, we need to wash our hands after the following activities:
1) Touching the face, nose, mouth, and ears
The aforementioned body parts are usually exposed to lots of germs. For instance, a mouth alone carries large amounts of bacteria and it is therefore important that we wash our hands after we touch the mouth.
2) Blowing the nose
I have personally seen a number of people blowing their nose in the air without a handkerchief and thereafter they simply rub their hands against one another. Then the next thing they do is to offer someone a handshake. I still recall during my youthful days rejecting a handshake with someone who had blown his nose right in his hands in my view. We can do better for cleanliness is said to be akin to godliness.
3) Using the toilet
Obviously many people wash their hands after visiting the toilet. However, do we do it thoroughly? It is important to wash our hands thoroughly by getting into all hard to reach areas between the fingers and under the fingernails. Always keep your fingernails short.
4) Smoking
Despite the fact that cigarettes are written that smoking is hazardous to health, many people still enjoy smoking. Apart from the odour emanating from smoking, most smokers touch their mouth when smoking. It is therefore recommended to wash our hands after smoking.
5) Handling waste products or rotten foodstuffs
Obviously waste products or rotten foodstuffs contain a lot of bacteria. It is unhygienic that a person can simply touch dustbins or any rotten foodstuffs without washing hands thereafter.
6) Handling money
I know that most people love money. They will not think that money carries a lot of bacteria because they are usually handled by various people who safely keep them in many places. For instance, others keep their money in the bra or dirty pockets. As a rule of thumb, whenever you touch money, wash your hands.
7) Eating
In Malawi, real eating really happens when we eat nsima. Most people do not wash their hands before and after eating a snack or a fruit. Others do not even wash a fruit itself before they eat it. It is therefore good manners to wash our hands before and after taking any food.
8) Handling raw foods particularly meat and poultry products
Before and after handling raw foods especially meat and poultry products, it is highly recommended that we wash our hands. As a rule of thumb, all foods that will be consumed by humans must be handled with utmost care.
9) Handling used cookery and cutlery or touching dirty surface
Obviously we need to wash the kitchen utensils before and after using them. In addition, we need to wash our hands after touching dirty surfaces. Most places exposed to the public are dirty such as door knobs, lift surfaces, supermarket tills, bank tills, excavator surfaces, and many more.
10) Handling a dirty wiping or washing cloth
It defeats the whole purpose of cleaning if the wiping or washing cloth is dirty itself. It is good manners to wash your hands after using a washing cloth.
11) When physically dirty
We all become dirty all the time depending on the type of work we do. Even if it is office work, sometimes we may touch some dirty public surfaces. In such circumstances, washing hands is a recommended activity.
It is scientifically proven that a mere act of washing hands may prevent some of the illnesses. Much as a handshake is traditionally good, a fist shake is preferable as it is more hygienic. Wash your hands regularly to avoid being a propagator of pathogens. It begins with you.
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