Official speaks against shaking of hands

Hohoe, June 16, GNA - Mr Paul Ambenne, Business Development Manager of Cleaning Solutions Limited (CSL), has said exchanging pleasantries throug h handshakes should be discouraged in view of emergence of communicable diseases such as the H1N1 pandemic. He said it was no longer scientifically safe to shake hands as that cultural practice was becoming a crucial receptacle for infecting one another without hand washing.

Mr Ambenne said this at a day's awareness creation workshop on HINI influenza, Cleaning and Hygiene Training for Senior High Schools in the Volta Region. The training being done in segments across the region would benefit 400 stakeholders including Chairmen of Procurement Committees, School matrons , House masters and mistresses, is collaboration between CSL and the Region al Directorate of Education. Mr Ambenne said shaking of hands, sneezing and coughing as well as picking noses and teeth by the hand contributed to the spreading of germs .. He said the situation was more precarious and alarming in the school

system where cleaning and hygiene procedures are not done with the right cleaning agents and detergents. Mr Ambenne said this attest to schools recording the most outbreaks of HiNi influenza.