'UAE residents told to clean up their act'
UAE residents have been told to wash away their dirty habits and stop the spread of disease.
The message from health experts comes after a survey revealed that half of us claim to be too busy to wash our hands and one in four only scrub them when they look or feel dirty.
Twenty-four per cent of the 1,000 respondents said they don’t even freshen their fingers before cooking. The findings of research into the personal hygiene habits of people in the UAE and Saudi Arabia were revealed yesterday ahead of the launch of an Arab Hygiene Council.
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A survey revealed that half of us claim to be too busy to wash our hands and one in four only scrub them when they look or feel dirty
The council will begin its task today, targeting folk with grubby fingers. “Hand washing could save more lives than a single vaccine or medical intervention,” said Professor John Oxford, the chairman of the Global Hygiene Council in Dubai yesterday.
Diseases that can spread as a result of poor personal hygiene come in various forms, including influenza; food-related diseases such as E.coli, listeria and salmonella; cholera; polio and hospital-borne diseases like C.difficile and MRSA.
Professor Oxford said countries have different health problems but all the diseases are a worldwide threat and can spread quickly.
Highlighting the recent HABIT study, funded by Reckitt Benckiser ME, the makers of Dettol anti-septic products, Professor Tariq Madani, of the King AbdulAziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia said the message about basic hand washing must be the thing spreading across the Middle East, not the germs
He said: “Fifty-six per cent of the respondents in the Middle East (the UAE and Saudi respondents) said they were ‘too busy’ to wash their hands; 33 per cent said it took too long and 24 per cent said they were ‘too hungry’ to wash their hands before cooking or eating.”
He added: “And 38 per cent said they only need to wash their hands when they look or feel dirty.” The new hygiene council will team up with Dubai Health Authority and other health bodies across the Middle East to take the basic hand washing message to hospitals and schools.
myra@7days.ae
Comments
by Chels_Fdz
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 7:43PM
“I remember the time when people couldn't LIVE without washing their hands. During the period of Swine Flu. Yeah people, wash your hands only when there's a life threatening disease in the air. That's all we need. As Nelson Mandela said,"Perhaps it requires great depths of oppression to create such heights of character".I, being just 14 years old, wash my hands every time I get a chance. If not washing, I apply Hand Sanitizer!
Hopefully another wave of swine flu will help people buck up on hygiene.
Germ-free-livingly yours,”
by Mohamed Suhail
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 6:45PM
“56% busy enough to wash hands.HMMMMM Better be careful to shake hands or enjoy your food .Because you never know what if those people are included in that......56%
Many are not actually perfect in personal hygiene and then they are the ones who stand first to talk about awareness. so great eye opener to all .
GOOD JOB EXPERTS.!!!”
by Abdulraheem
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 4:24PM
“This news reminds me a philosophical thoughts, Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.There's a victory, and defeat; the first and best of victories, the lowest and worst of defeats which each man gains or sustains at the hands not of another, but of himself.”
by Yamna
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 4:11PM
“Another good idea is to take a small portable tube of hand sanitizer. That definitely helps as well.”
by Mishmumkin
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 11:20AM
“Respondents had enough time to answer the survey but found themselves too busy to wash their hands after using the loo.”
by Joel Villanueva
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 11:12AM
“It should be done all the time to prevent spread of diseases, especially living in dusty places.”
by Noor E Jahan
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 10:56AM
“I donot understand how people cannot wash their hands? Disgusting !!”
by Gavtek
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 10:38AM
“Who took part in this survey? It looks like the results have been skewed to suit a particular agenda. I would be amazed if even 1% of the population would claim they are "too busy" to wash their hands. I mean, who would actually say that? Colour me suspicious.”
by saqib
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 10:01AM
“The skin is one of the most important body parts, even though many people don't pay too much attention to it unless there is a problem. Our skin also plays an important role in the elimination of certain bodily waste products. Our task is to wash and clean our skin to keep it healthy.”
by Chocs01
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 9:56AM
“It never ceases to amaze me how many people don't wash their hands after using the toilet! You even see people in the food service industry in public loos leaving without washing. I can't even touch the door on the way out, because I know people haven't washed. Just think of all the things we handle on a daily basis that are crawling with germs and bacteria? Shopping trolley handles, door handles, shaking other peoples hands and money has to be the filthiest thing we use every day.
Many people really do need to be educated on basic hygiene and everyone should carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer.”