Cleanliness is very important to prevent the spread of diseases. To achieve this, water must be treated to prevent infection and other problems that can arise. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing countries use the acronym WASH to help people improve their cleanliness. There are several important aspects to consider in cleanliness.
Sanitation
Sanitation of water (h20) and wastes is critical for healthy and safe living. Sanitation technologies help to manage fecal waste, isolate pathogens, transport it safely, and provide a dignified experience for people while using public facilities. These technologies vary according to the user’s needs and location.
The global population is growing and the demand for safe drinking h20 is increasing. Combined with increasing h20 scarcity and rapid urbanization, the need for sanitation is greater than ever. According to this study, currently, 4.5 billion people practice open defecation or use unsafe sanitation facilities
This is a major public health and environmental issue and must be managed at all stages. Otherwise, human waste can end up polluting the environment and contaminating water supplies and fields. Insufficient sanitation is a leading contributor to waterborne disease. Every day, it causes the death of 1,200 children under the age of five.
This is more than the number of deaths caused by AIDS, measles, or tuberculosis combined. In 2016, alone, inadequate sanitation led to more than half a million diarrheal deaths. Despite these serious consequences, sanitation services and models are still not improving fast enough.
Hygiene
The acronym WASH stands for water, sanitation, and hygiene. Non-governmental organizations in developing countries use this acronym to refer to the health-related programs they work on. These programs are designed to help communities address these issues. They focus on h20 supply, sanitation, and hygiene.
Quality is a crucial factor in cleanliness. Without access to clean h20, it is impossible to perform hygiene-related activities properly. In developing countries, access to clean water and soap is limited. People in these settings are particularly vulnerable to diseases caused by dirty h20. As such, it is important to improve hygiene practices and provide safe h20.
In developing countries, there is a high rate of poverty, with most households spending less than $1 a day on food, clothes, and other immediate needs. It is not uncommon for families to struggle to find food, and hygiene is only a secondary priority once they move up the development ladder.
Infections
The foundation of life, h20, is often contaminated with pathogens that can cause health problems. These pathogens can lead to an increased risk of healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Although tap water meets strict safety standards in the United States, it is not completely sterile.
It may contain certain numbers and types of bacteria, but they rarely pose a serious risk to human health. Improving cleanliness can help reduce the number of infections related to these problems. A simple hand washing ritual can have an enormous impact. The World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/, estimates that handwashing behavior alone can prevent up to 842,000 deaths from diarrhea every year.
Other studies have shown that handwashing behavior reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections, flu, and infective conjunctivitis. In addition, improving WASH can help reduce the risks of infections and sepsis in infants, which are especially vulnerable. The provision of safe WASH services is essential for maintaining community health during infectious diseases outbreaks.
Handwashing
Handwashing is an important part of cleanliness and it can reduce the risk of developing diarrhea by up to 30 percent. However, London water services say that there are known limitations to hand washing programs. Adherence is often low, and hand washing interventions rely on low fidelity to achieve the desired effect.
The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the criticality of hand washing and WASH. While hand washing is crucial in the prevention of COVID-19 infection, millions of people do not have access to facilities that allow them to wash their hands properly. According to UNICEF, only three in five people worldwide have access to basic hand washing facilities.
Some health-related publications, such as Environmental Health Perspectives, can provide additional resources for public health campaigns. Hand washing during cleanliness is essential for the prevention of diseases like diarrhea and HIV, and is the foundation for economic development.