Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Oct 16: Health experts in Kashmir have underscored the importance of hand hygiene as a fundamental practice for maintaining good health and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Doctors said that clean hands form the foundation of a healthier, disease-free life and play a crucial role in protecting communities from outbreaks.
Dr Basharat Ahmad, a general physician at the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), said that there is a need to encourage individuals, families, communities, and organisations to adopt proper handwashing habits in their daily lives.
“Regular handwashing is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections,” he said.
Dr Basharat added that handwashing with soap can significantly reduce the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, cholera, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections, which continue to be major causes of illness and death across the world.
Another senior health professional, Dr Showkat Ahmad Bhat, highlighted the importance of hand hygiene during critical moments.
“Washing hands before eating, after using the toilet, and after coughing or sneezing can drastically lower the risk of infection,” he said. “For children, regular handwashing means fewer episodes of diarrhoea and respiratory diseases, translating into fewer missed school days and improved learning outcomes.”
Dr Showkat added that from time to time, awareness drives, educational campaigns, and community engagement initiatives are being organised across health centres and schools to teach people the correct handwashing techniques.
Doctors stressed that promoting hand hygiene is not just an individual responsibility but a collective effort requiring strong collaboration between the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and local communities.
Ensuring universal access to clean water, soap, and proper sanitation facilities is essential for achieving a healthier and more resilient society, they said, adding that handwashing remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions.
They urged people to make handwashing a daily routine, saying that this simple act could save millions of lives each year and help reduce the burden on the healthcare system—(KNO)
