Gauteng Health Observes World Hand Hygiene Day: The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Preventing the Spread of Infections and Diseases

by
1 min read
hand hygiene world hand hygiene day

World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on May 5th to raise awareness of the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections and diseases. This year’s theme emphasizes the need to reduce the spread of infection and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.

The Significance of Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene has proven to prevent and control infections and diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, regularly washing hands with soap and water was one of the golden rules that prevented the spread of the infectious virus. Also, with Gauteng currently facing a cholera outbreak, practicing proper hand hygiene is more important than ever.

Newsletter

Stay Informed • Cape Town

Get breaking news, events, and local stories delivered to your inbox daily. All the news that matters in under 5 minutes.

Join 10,000+ readers
No spam, unsubscribe anytime

The Cholera Outbreak

Cholera is a bacterial infection that spreads through contaminated water or food, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Currently, Gauteng has confirmed 11 cholera cases and one death. MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko has stressed the importance of washing hands before and after using the bathroom, preparing or eating food, and touching animals.

The Role of Environmental Health Specialists and Health Promoters

To curb the spread of infections and diseases associated with poor hygiene practices, Environmental Health specialists and health promoters have been educating street food vendors about providing soap and water to customers to wash their hands before serving them food.

The Importance of Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is not only vital during a cholera outbreak but also for preventing the spread of other infections and diseases. Everyone must make it a habit to regularly wash their hands to stay healthy and safe.

World Hand Hygiene Day reminds us of the significance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infections and diseases. The Gauteng Department of Health encourages the public to practice hand hygiene to prevent infections and diseases and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings. For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Health.

Tags:

You might be interested in

Liam Fortuin is a Cape Town journalist whose reporting on the city’s evolving food culture—from township kitchens to wine-land farms—captures the flavours and stories of South Africa’s many kitchens. Raised in Bo-Kaap, he still starts Saturday mornings hunting koesisters at family stalls on Wale Street, a ritual that feeds both his palate and his notebook.

View all

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

loskop bulk water supply project water supply Cape Town
Previous Story

Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project: Addressing Water Supply Challenges in South Africa

mojo market sea point
Next Story

The Mojo Market in Sea Point: Your Next Must-Visit Destination

Latest from Blog

Kiteboarding Extreme Sports

Forty Metres of Air: The Morning Kiteboarding Rewrote Physics

Hugo Wigglesworth, a young kiteboarder, defied gravity and rewrote the record books by soaring an incredible 40 meters into the air. He used powerful winds, a perfectly timed jump off a wave, and special gear to achieve this amazing feat. His careful planning and hundreds of practice runs made him fly higher than anyone before, showing the world what’s possible in kiteboarding.

housing crisis Airbnb

Airbnb Under Fire: How Cape Town’s Housing Crunch Became a Tourism Blame-Game

Cape Town’s housing woes are NOT really Airbnb’s fault, even though a viral photo tried to blame them! The real problem is that not enough homes are being built, and lots of new people are moving to the city. Getting building permits takes forever, making homes expensive. Airbnb brings in lots of money and jobs, and even if all Airbnbs disappeared, it wouldn’t fix the big housing shortage. The city needs to build more homes and make it easier to do so, not just point fingers at tourists.

Cape Town Restaurants

Cape Town’s Hottest Tables: Where Summer Tastes Like Salt, Smoke and Midnight Vinyl

Cape Town’s new restaurants are super exciting, offering amazing tastes from the ocean, farms, and even old recipes. Places like Amura serve unique sea dishes, while Tannin has a huge wine list and tiny plates. Café Sofi bakes heavenly pastries, Beach Buns makes awesome burgers, and Le Bistrot de JAN mixes French and South African flavors. These spots let you taste the city’s lively food scene, from fancy dinners to casual beach eats, making every meal an adventure.

South Africa Ocean

Between Concrete and Current – Four Inland Hearts Meet the Indian Ocean

This article tells a beautiful story of four South Africans from inland places who see the Indian Ocean for the very first time. For many, the sea is just a picture, far away and hard to reach. But when these brave people finally touch the salty water, it changes them deeply. They feel the ocean’s power, taste its salt, and understand that this huge, blue world is now a part of their own story, breaking down old ideas about who can connect with the sea.