By Ogova Ondego
Published January 12, 2021
You have a runny nose, nasal congestion, a headache, shortness of breath, high fever, muscle ache and general fatigue. A medical doctor, after examining you, recommends some medication and home-based care of at least 10 days for you. What could you be suffering from?
Hygiene for Home and Schools by Ruth Mugambi that tackles the importance of of being clean, acquiring and practising habits of cleanliness and living in a clean environment to keep diseases and infection at bay, has the right answer for you.
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Though released by Focus Publishers of Nairobi in 2006, the information contained in this reference manual targeting the youth reads like it was written and released after the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic in December 2019. What with it touching on COVID-19-related containment measures like hand washing, sanitisation, disinfection, keeping the sick in isolation, covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing and home-based care for the sick.
Defining the term ‘Hygiene’ as the art or science of preserving one’s health, the book also traces the term to Hygieia, the goddess of health in ancient Greece who was in charge of good health and prevention of disease.
Any wonder why conventional wisdom has it that cleanliness is next to godliness?
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Hygiene, says writer Mugambi in the book that is divided into three main sections titled Me, My Home and My Surroundings, is essential to life as it promotes good health and reduces chances of infection with diseases associated with dirt.
In the first section of this 144-page reference manual, the author stresses that hygiene begins with the individual and explains why and how to care for the various parts of the body to maintain high standards of cleanliness.
Among other topics, the book highlights what it refers to as hygiene etiquette as comprising but not limited to:
- holding a hand in front of the mouth when sneezing or coughing
- using a clean handkerchief when one catches a a cold
- not spitting or nose-picking
- washing hands before eating and after using the toilet
- not licking fingers before picking up sheets of paper
- not biting nails
- taking a bath every day
- wearing clean clothes
- living in a clean environment (house and compound).
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Though deodorants and antiperspirants may be used sparingly to reduce sweating and to give a pleasant smell, the book says regular baths prevent bad odours and that one need not use cosmetics in caring for the skin.
“If the deodorants or antiperspirants give you a rash, stop their use immediately,” it stresses.
Like deodorants and antiperspirants, make-up may be used to enhance one’s appearance. However, the book says, make-up shouldn’t enter the eyes.
Warning against leaving “cream on the eyes all night,” the book also cautions against bleaching or dying eyebrows or lashes “as the chemical used can be harmful to the eye”
On caring for the ears, the book forbids pushing things ” inside the ear to clean it. The ear is capable of cleaning itself through the removal of wax.”
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“Hands and nails constantly come in contact with dirt and disease-causing germs. Extra care should therefore be taken to ensure they are always clean,” author Mugambi says, Stressing the importance of washing hands and finger nails.
Hands should be washed regularly, especially:
- before preparing and eating food
- after going to the toilet
- after performing any task that involves touching of dirt such as gardening or playing with animals.
How are hands washed?
“Wash hands using clean water and soap.A nail brush may be used to clean inside the nails. Always rinse the hands after washing to remove soap and dirt,” Hygiene for Home and Schools says.
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Since Hygiene for Home and schools targets youth, it also goes into some detail about body-development changes in adolescence and how to cope as one develops into an adult.It touches on subjects such as sanitary towels, tampons, menstruation and personal care items like combs, razor blades, tooth brushes, underwear and outerwear. It also touches on acne, tooth decay, gum disease, dandruff, ringworm, athlete’s foot, pubic lice, scabies, jiggers, chiggers, hookworms, vaginitis, vaginal yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, urinary tract infection, all diseases and conditions associated with poor personal hygiene. It explains how to care for oneself when ill.
Yes home, any home, can be made safe and comfortable by getting rid of dirt because “Dust from people, dust and animals can contaminate dishes, utensils and the food we handle.”
What principles of food hygiene should we observe?
- cooked food should not be stored for more than three days, unless frozen
- cooked food should not be handled with bare hands
- cooked food should not be reheated more than three timesRaw food should be washed with clean water
- frozen food should be thawed completely before cooking to to ensure the heat penetrates the food when cooked
- animals and birds should not be allowed where food is prepared, served or stored.
“People with infectious diseases should avoid preparing meals for family and friends,” the book says on food and water.
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So why is home-based care for the indisposed becoming a trend around the world?
This is due to rising health care and increasing costs in health facilities, the book says. However, Hygiene for Home and schools says that any decision to care for the sick at home should be taken only on advice of medical practitioners.
Hygiene for Home and Schools is a useful reference material whose value would be greatly enhanced through larger and full colour illustrations, tighter copy editing and better quality paper.
