According to a recent study, only 53% of the people in India wash hands with soap after defecation. Apart from this, only 38% and 30% wash their hands with soap before eating and preparing food, respectively. Washing hands after a visit to the washroom or before eating is a no-brainer. However, it is also an activity often ignored. Many people even do it wrong without understanding the health risks that contaminated hands can invite.
Diarrhoea and respiratory infections are the number one causes for child mortality in India. Research suggests that hand washing with soap can reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases by about 40% and respiratory infections by 30%. Poor hand hygiene is responsible for many diseases.
From common cold to an eye sty, one never knows what damage unclean hands can do to health. Contaminated hands can trigger feco-oral diseases like cholera and typhoid. This is more so during the rainy season when sanitation is poor and there are flies abound. Unclean hands can also lead to gastroenteritis, worm infestations, and jaundice. Hand washing with soap, inside out for about 10 to 15 seconds can guard you against various viral and bacterial diseases
How should you wash your handsIJ
— Courtesy Indian Medical Association