Safeguard demonstrates to students and teachers how germs spread in the classroom and how to prevent it through handwashing.
Manila Water Foundation recently went live on Facebook to commemorate Global Handwashing Day alongside its partners, P&G Safeguard, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Department of Education (DepEd).
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| Safeguard demonstrates to students and teachers how germs spread in the classroom and how to prevent it through handwashing. |
Prior to the Facebook Live, Safeguard began the celebration in person with the local government of Quezon City, one of the program's most significant beneficiaries. P&G's flagship brand underlined the importance of proper hand hygiene in ensuring the safety of children and school administrators, notably as safety limits are eased. As a result, Safeguard is dedicated to providing that every school has access to handwashing facilities. P&G Safeguard and its partners were happy to report that the National Capital Region (NCR) is on pace to have all of its schools star-rated in the DepEd Wash in Schools (WinS) program, with the completion of the 285 handwashing facilities.
Why Is Handwashing Necessary?
David Khoo, the Principal Scientist of P&G's Health and Hygiene Institute, delivered a brief presentation on the science of handwashing and how germs spread during Safeguard and MWF's Global Handwashing Day livestream. "Scientists and doctors would agree that the major way bacteria infect us is through our hands," Khoo said.
Every cough or sneeze, every exchange of money and things between our hands, every flush of the toilet, and all 23 times per hour that we unknowingly put our hands on our faces, to mention a few.
Since we use our hands for everything, we must remember to wash them for at least 20 seconds.
Khoo also debunked some prevalent handwashing fallacies, such as the belief that washing hands with a pail of water is less effective than washing with flowing water.
“Anytime you have a standing bucket of water (water that isn’t flowing or running), it may be clean the first time you use it. But after that, the germs may be left behind, and they will grow. So, the next time you use it, you will potentially reinfect and contaminate your hands with the growing germs in that water.”
A Friendly Reminder to Wash Your Hands
Vice President for P&G Beauty Care and Brand Operations Aldrich Gopal pointed out that even if we are all out and about, it does not mean that germs and diseases are eliminated and that washing your hands is crucial to protect the future of our nation – especially our students. “The threat of germs and diseases never left us, even as we move on to the new normal. The same germs can cause diseases that lead to school absences. However, with the power of a single SAFEwash, we can remove most of those diseases. So, when we make regular handwashing a part of our students’ lives, we also protect them from missing opportunities that would lead them to success in the future.”
A single hand wash can help lessen the spread of germs—it only takes 20 seconds! Let’s unite for a safer Philippines by practicing proper hand hygiene in and out of our homes for ourselves, our loved ones, and the people around us.