Int’l children’s org: Teach kids proper hand washing, hygiene amid nCoV fears

International children's rights organization Save The Children on Wednesday urged parents and caregivers to teach children proper hygiene practices, especially in light of the new coronavirus that has spread from China to other countries.

According to Save the Children Philippines in a statement, children under five years old are the most vulnerable to diseases due to their weaker immune systems.

Jonathan Valdez, adviser for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) of Save the Children Philippines, provided proper hygiene tips that parents can teach children to protect them from airborne diseases:

• wash your hands properly with soap and clean water
• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands
• avoid getting near other children or adults who are sick
• avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products

The Global Handwashing Partnership describes proper handwashing technique: 

1. Wet your hands
2. Cover your wet hands with soap
3. Scrub all the surfaces, including palms, back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the fingernails, for about 20 seconds
4. Rinse well with running water
5. Dry your hands on a clean cloth or by waving them in the air

The Global Handwashing Partnership is a coalition of international health stakeholders that include UNICEF, USAID, World Bank, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Cough etiquette

Children should also be taught proper "cough etiquette," said Valdez.

“Teach them to cover their mouth and nose with flexed elbow, tissue paper or cloth when coughing or sneezing.”

Children should then throw the used tissue into waste bins and then wash their hands.

Adults should follow all of the above as well as keep surfaces clean, handle food properly, and cook animal products thoroughly, Valdez said.

He also urged Filipinos to seek medical attention when they or their children are sick.

“By protecting themselves, parents and caregivers can prevent the spread of airborne diseases at home, thus setting the first line of defense for their children,” said Valdez.

He also noted that breastfeeding is very important for young children two years old and below to strengthen their immune system.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified by authorities in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December in connection with a pneumonia outbreak. More than 130 people in China have died of the illness, with thousands more infected. — BM, GMA News