Manila Water Foundation and its partners, P&G Safeguard, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the Department of Education (DepEd), recently went live on Facebook to celebrate Global Handwashing Day.

Prior to the Facebook Live, Safeguard began the celebration in person with the local government of Quezon City, one of the program’s most significant beneficiaries. P&G’s flagship brand underlines the need for constant, appropriate hand hygiene in ensuring the safety of both children and school administrators, particularly as safety limits are eased. So, Safeguard is committed to making sure that every school has a place to wash its hands. P&G Safeguard, together with its partners, was happy to report that the National Capital Region (NCR) is on pace to have all of its schools star-rated in the DepEd Wash in Schools (WinS) program, with the completion of the 285 handwashing facilities.

Is Handwashing Important?

David Khoo, the Principal Scientist of P&G’s Health and Hygiene Institute, delivered a brief presentation on the science of handwashing and how germs spread during Safeguard and MWF’s Global Handwashing Day webcast. “Scientists and physicians would agree that the major way bacteria infect us is through our hands,” Khoo said.

Every cough or sneeze, every exchange of money and things between our hands, every flush of the toilet, and all 23 times each hour that we unknowingly put our hands on our faces, to mention a few.

David Khoo, the Principal Scientist of the Health and Hygiene Institute, demonstrates the difference between washing for 20 seconds vs 5 seconds or none at all.

Given that we use our hands for everything, it is critical that we remember to wash them for at least 20 seconds.

Khoo also debunked other prevalent handwashing fallacies, such as the belief that washing our hands with a pail of water is less efficient than washing with flowing water.

“Anytime you have a standing bucket of water (water that isn’t flowing or running), the first time you use it, it may be clean. But after that, the germs may be left behind and they will grow. So, the next time you use it, you will potentially reinfect and contaminate your hands with the germs that are growing in that standing water.”

Aldrich Gopal, Vice President of P&G Beauty Care and Brand Operations, stated that just because we are all out and about does not mean that germs and illnesses are gone and that washing your hands is critical to protecting our nation’s future, particularly our youngsters. “The threat of germs and illnesses has never gone away, even as we transition to the new normal.” The same bacteria can induce illnesses that force students to miss school. Most of those infections, however, may be eradicated with the power of a single SAFEwash. So, by making frequent handwashing a part of our children’s lives, we shield them from losing out on chances that might lead to future success.”

A simple hand wash can help reduce pathogen spread—and it only takes 20 seconds!

Let us join forces for a safer Philippines by practicing appropriate hand hygiene in and out of our homes for ourselves, our loved ones, and the people around us.