DURING influenza pandemics, everyone is advised to practise good personal hygiene to prevent infection.

The World Health Organisation and Unicef have done research on how washing hands with soap after using the toilet, before meals and every time they get dirty has prevented death among children caused by preventable diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.

Among the actions we are advised to take to prevent the spread of influenza (swine or avian) are:

- Washing hands frequently after using the toilet, before every meal and after a trip outside.

- Avoid gathering at crowded places, especially shopping complexes, bus stops and other mass transportation stops.

If you have to, use face masks to cover your nose and mouth.

- If you have flu-like symptoms, avoid meeting people and seek medical attention, especially during a pandemic like this.

Heads of primary schools, kindergartens, nurseries and daycare centres should ensure that children are educated about the importance of personal hygiene.

They should also be vigilant against any flu-like symptoms among children under their care.

Schools must be provided with soap, running water and towels.

Most secondary schools we have visited were not provided with soap at wash basins in the canteen.

Some schools do not even provide soap in toilets.

Canteen operators must provide washing facilities and schools should provide them in toilets.

We just read of another case of food poisoning in a school in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday.

We call on private and public agencies to promote personal hygiene and provide public sanitation facilities which comply with Malaysian Standards (such as the MS 2015:2006 for public toilets).

Parents, teachers and caregivers must educate and cultivate good personal hygiene among children.

RATNA DEVI NADARAJAN, Malaysian Association of Standards Users, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – April 30, 2009