Ministry of Health has emphasized the need for people to maintain hand hygiene in order to prevent infections.

Speaking to Yoneco FM online, chief health education officer in the ministry Mavuto Thomas said hand hygiene is critical more so now as the country is fighting Covid-19 and Cholera among other diseases.

He made the call as Malawi joins the global community to commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day which falls on May 5 annually.

“About 35% to 40% of the diseases are hygiene related so if we emphasize on handwashing we should prevent a lot of diseases,” Thomas said.

In her remarks, a research nurse coordinator at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Hellen Mangochi said some people fail to access clean water and soap and this affects their hand hygiene and increases infections.

She has nonetheless asked people to embrace the handwashing culture by changing their mindsets towards the activity.

“Emphasis has to be made that hand hygiene is important and if we don’t have diseases amongst us we are assured of a healthy nation which can contribute significantly to the development of the country,” Mangochi said.

According to the World Health Organization(WHO), this year’s theme for world hand hygiene day, is focused on recognizing that we can add to a facility’s climate or culture of safety and quality through cleaning our hands but also that a strong quality and safety culture will encourage people to clean hands at the right times and with the right products.