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GhanaWeb Feature by Joycelyn Kyei Baffour
On October 15, 2024, the world observed Global Handwashing Day, a reminder of the critical role hand hygiene plays in public health.
For organisations like UNICEF, the day brings to attention how the profound impact of washing hands with soap and water can prevent diseases and save lives.
This year’s theme, 'Why are clean hands still important?' is particularly relevant to Ghana, which has recently reported 10 new cases of cholera.
According to the World Health Organisation ( WHO), cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated.
The waterborne disease continues to be a global health threat, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation and limited access to clean water.
It estimates that between 1.4 and 4.3 million cholera cases occur annually, leading to 28,000 to 142,000 deaths.
The disease spreads typically through contaminated food and water. Consuming water from unsafe sources such as brackish rivers, reservoirs, or freshwater pools can also lead to infection.
As a result, informal settlements and peri-urban slums, where basic sanitation and public health services are lacking, are particularly vulnerable to cholera outbreaks.
WHO adds that children under the age of five are especially at risk, with more than half of global cholera cases and deaths occurring among young children. Vulnerable groups also include the elderly and those living in extreme poverty.
Why handwashing is a powerful defense against cholera
Handwashing, however, remains a powerful defense against cholera.
Proper hand hygiene, especially before eating and after using the toilet, can prevent the ingestion of harmful bacteria, significantly reducing the chances of contracting cholera.
According to the WHO, hand washing with soap can reduce diarrheal diseases like cholera by up to 50 percent.
Although Global Handwashing Day has passed, its message continues to resonate, particularly as Ghana faces a new cholera threat.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in a statement on Monday, October 14, 2024, announced that as of October 11, nine cholera cases had been confirmed in the Ada West and Ada East Districts of the Greater Accra Region.
In response to the outbreak, the GHS has activated Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) at the national, regional, and district levels.
A multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) has also been deployed, including representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units.
It urged the public to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene, and report any symptoms of cholera to the nearest health facility.
The Service, along with international organizations like UNICEF, are working to raise awareness about the importance of handwashing and to improve access to clean water and hygiene facilities in vulnerable communities in the country.
Campaigns to educate the public on proper handwashing techniques are critical in preventing the spread of cholera, especially in areas with limited resources.
These efforts are expected to equip communities with the needed tools they require to protect themselves from waterborne diseases and improve health outcomes.
A continued call to action
Though World Handwashing Day is behind us, the need for regular handwashing remains as urgent as ever, particularly in the wake of the recent cholera cases in the country.
Hand hygiene is not just a habit but a crucial measure in preventing the spread of life-threatening diseases.
By making handwashing a consistent part of daily routines, Ghanaians can protect themselves, their families, and their communities.
In a bid to reinforce the critical importance of hygiene, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has reaffirmed the need for regular handwashing with soap.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the Global Handwashing Day in Accra, she explained that while handwashing is a simple practice, it helps to reduce the spread of diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
“Handwashing with soap removes harmful microorganisms before they enter our bodies or are passed on to others. It breaks the chain of disease transmission and that can reduce school absenteeism caused by diarrhea and influenza by up to 50 percent.
“Many handwashing stations have disappeared, and even where they exist, they are often non-functional, lacking soap or water," she added.
Lydia Alhassan further stated that there had been a decline in the act of handwashing, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, and stressed the need for a renewed focus on maintaining these facilities, especially in schools, hospitals, and public places.
Clean hands remain a powerful tool for health and survival, and prioritising it is critical to combating cholera and other diseases to ensure a safer and healthier future for all.
JKB/AE
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