Washing your hands saves lives

The Department of Human Settlements urges the community to wash their hands in order to prevent diseases from infecting their bodies.

According to one of the members of strategic support for the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS), Sethu Loyilane, it is easier and more cost efficient to prevent diseases instead of treating them.

That is why they hosted the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programme in 2001.

“Ever since we started this campaign, we have been traveling across South Africa to host various workshops to educate people on how they can start living a healthier life. The first step towards this life is to make washing your hands a habit,” says Sethu.

Although Wash focuses on hygiene, their programme objectives are to support the delivery of sanitation by giving people the tools they need to live a healthier life, as well as to create public awareness around better hygiene and to provide a structured process for changing behavior in order to get the community into the habit of washing their hands and prevent germs from entering the body.

The most diseases can enter your body through your mouth, therefore your biggest disease carrier is germs.

“People are so used to eat a snack while working in the garden or to have supper after playing with the dog.

“That is where you come into contact with germs that may result in disease or illness,” says Sethu.

Help the NDHS in their quest to prevent diseases and illnesses by better hygiene, instead of treating it.

“It starts with you and a good habit of washing your hands,” says Sethu.