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Global Handwashing Day: A Little Bit of Soap, A Powerful Effect on Human Health
Global Handwashing Day: A Little Bit of Soap, A Powerful Effect on Human Health
Published 10-14-08
Submitted by Non Profile
- Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) Offers Year-Round Resources for Educators, Consumers on the Connection Between Hygiene and Health
- New Book Against Disease Reminds Us "That sanitary diligence is as pertinent to health today as it was a century ago."
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The message of the first-ever Global Handwashing Day on October 15, 2008 -- as designated by the United Nations General Assembly -- is meant to last longer than 24 hours. The universal call for improved hygiene practices around the world reminds all of us that a little bit of soap can very easily enhance the health of millions of people.
"People all over the world wash their hands with water. The belief that washing with water alone to remove visible dirt is sufficient to make hands clean is commonplace in many countries. However, because handwashing with soap is the single most cost-effective health intervention, there is a critical need to educate people regarding the benefits of adding soap to their personal hygiene regime," said Nancy Bock, Vice President of Education at The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA "“ www.cleaning101.com)
Since 1926, SDA has made available numerous educational materials, at limited or no cost, to help researchers, health educators, teachers and consumers learn and share information on the benefits and proper use of hygiene and cleaning products.
Against Disease
The new book Against Disease: The Impact of Hygiene and Cleanliness on Health examines the historical scientific record on the role of sanitation, medical advances, and personal hygiene and cleanliness in reducing the incidence of disease-related morbidity and mortality.
The book, available at AgainstDisease.com, is authored by Dr. Allison Aiello of the University of Michigan School of Public Health; Dr. Elaine Larson of Columbia University; and Richard Sedlak, SDA Senior Vice President, Technical & International Affairs.
"The health revolution is still ongoing in the form of personal hygiene and household cleanliness -- two important disease prevention strategies," the authors write. "This fact is clear: good personal and household hygiene practices, although often overlooked in the past, remain vital contributors to good health."
Clean Hands Campaign
SDA is part of the Clean Hands Campaign, a partnership with the American Society for Microbiology. The Campaign has new educational brochures and posters are now available at www.washup.org. The materials include English and Spanish language versions.
Cleaning101.com/HandHygiene
A variety of fact sheets and hygiene and health related news items, brochures and posters are housed on SDA's Hand Hygiene Information page. These materials can be accessed online at www.cleaning101.com/handhygiene.
The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com), the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry(TM), is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products, their ingredients and finished packaging; oleochemical producers; and chemical distributors to the cleaning product industry. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.
