A common sense approach to personal hygiene during Coronavirus now and beyond

“Nine-tenths of our sickness can be prevented by right thinking plus right hygiene - nine-tenths of it!” - Henry Miller.

You see, these streets have suddenly become scary. I recollect how we often laugh about the many cautions that are often sounded to us concerning our personal hygiene. I remember how we often sarcastically blurt out “the one who introduced hygiene kraa e be borla car wey kill am.” Well, this local quote doesn't sound funny any more.

Going about my regular errands in town, I see the “panicky” reactions of people within this Covid19 season. Understandably so especially given the number of cases and deaths recorded worldwide especially in areas of the world deemed as advanced and enlightened. As we monitor the various news portals it is also easy to determine the fright and confusion on the faces of people in countries that have recorded high cases and deaths.

While there has been some efforts by authorities in Ghana to provide the standard health amenities and follow the WHO approved protocols to mitigate against the escalation in numbers of cases already recorded in the country, I think we as individuals at this critical point in our health management period take responsibility for our personal health safety and take serious our personal hygiene. There have been several talks about the seeming unpreparedness of the government to protect the citizenry (within and without its borders) against the possibility of contracting the condition. Let's continue to demand of the government what is within their authority to do, whilst at it let's support them by doing what is within our individual abilities to protect ourselves and those within our close circles against being infected.

One important step to take as individuals is not to fan the flame of fear. Fear can immobilise you and stop you from acting sensibly, and now more than ever is not the time to act insensibly. Let us make it our responsibility to educate our brothers and sisters who can not read or understand the education in English in our local dialects.

As the education by health experts say, observing good personal hygiene is one sure way of avoiding infection. It is important that we continue to remind each other as often as we can to wash our hands as often as possible with soap under running water, cough into the inside of our elbows and avoid coughing/sneezing into our palms, cough into tissues and discard appropriately, use alcohol based hand sanitisers, avoid touching your face as much as possible (practicable), avoid shaking hands, eat well (nutritious/balance meals) to boost your immune system, exercise, rest well and observe social distancing protocols.

The steps proposed are definitely not exhaustive, what is essential is the application of COMMON SENSE. Yes, C O M M O N S E N S E. I can not stress it enough. “A breach of common sense is a breach of school rules,” if-you-know-you-know. There are countries that have not recorded a single case and there are also countries that have for more than 7 days not recorded any new case beyond the initial cases recorded, this indicates that observing the set out protocols plus the application of a good dose of COMMON SENSE will lead to a reduction in recorded cases or even no cases at all.

Let us also note the following symptoms: coughing, high temperatures, fever and difficulty in breathing and immediately call the following numbers 112, 0558439868 and 0509497700 for assistance if or when we observe these symptoms in ourselves or others.

Let's sign off with this quote from Sri Sathya Sai Baba, “Keep your own house and its surroundings pure and clean. This hygiene will keep you healthy and benefit your worldly life.”