It’s so easy to say wash your hands regularly and know the kids have their shields up. But what do you do if the utility turns off the supply for essential repairs. And your alcohol hand cleanser has run dry. If that sounds impossible then we may have worrying news for you. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says washing hands only works half the time.
Because 40% of Homes Don’t Have Running Water
Washing hands only works half the time because three billion people don’t have a sink and a tap in their home. Three quarters of them live in the world’s poorest countries where families survive in impoverished conditions. The remaining quarter mainly live in developing countries.
However, we suspect we would find more than a few in our first world countries too. Think street children, families evicted with nowhere to go, missing children, and so on. This situation affects all of us, because sooner or later our paths are going to cross. And someone somewhere is going to pass the infection.
Washing Hands Only Works Half the Time Until We Act
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund says the COVID-19 pandemic is a chilling reminder. That’s because we are less able to stop the virus spread in 40% of the population. It has a plan to tackle this. But it needs support from international partners, national governments, public and private sectors, and civil society too.
Of course, the tragedy is washing hands only works half the time in developed nations including North America. That’s because many of us still don’t wash our hands properly, and wear face coverings to inhibit hand to face transmission. It takes more than a few seconds for soapy water to start killing the virus. We have the knowledge to stop the spread. It’s time we started using it.
Related
Why COVID-19 Can’t Resist Soap and Water
Why Some of Us Do Not Wash Our Hands
Preview Image: Woman Washing Hands
