PERSONAL HYGIENE: Pass the soap and fight the flu

2009/09/09

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Kuala Lumpur

MUCH has been said and reported about the importance of hygiene in the prevention of influenza A (H1N1). Many a time we have been told to maintain good personal hygiene by constantly washing our hands with soap or hand wash.

I believe fully that good personal hygiene is an effective way of minimising the spread of the flu.

But what disappoints me is that, based on my observations and frequent walkabouts, personal hygiene cannot be effectively practised because in many public toilets, soap or hand wash is not available.

In many schools, I have been told by parents, there is no soap or hand wash in the toilets.

In many hotels or privately managed buildings I have visited, the soap or hand-wash dispenser has not been refilled. Nothing irks you more than to find the dispensers empty when you need to use them.

I have found such empty dispensers even in toilets of ministries and government departments.

A good wash is a good guarantee against influenza A (H1N1).

This defeats the purpose of having soap dispensers. To me, this is a question of poor housekeeping which would not happen if we had a good housekeeping and maintenance culture.

The Health Ministry keeps on emphasising hygiene and washing hands with soap or hand wash but it is difficult for the public to comply when the facilities are not available.

I urge all those responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of public toilets, either in government or private sector buildings and those in all public facilities, to ensure that soap or hand wash are placed and frequently checked for public use.

Providing soap or hand wash does not cost much. If the facility is made available for public use in the interest of hygiene, it will go a long way in preventing the spread of H1N1.