Basic hygiene and Covid-19

A set of basic precautions can help us go a long way in preventing spread of coronavirus.

Author:

Alok Bhatia

Q. What key things people should know about how to prevent coronavirus?

Handwashing works. But to be effective you need to do it frequently and do it properly. During the coronavirus outbreak we've learned not just to do it before eating and after using the toilet, but also before touching our face, using soap and water to break the virus down. Foam destroys the cell membranes, and water rinses it off.

We also need to practice general hygiene, especially respiratory hygiene, for example, and cleaning commonly touched surfaces. Physical distancing is equally important and shielding vulnerable people that may be more susceptible to the virus.

Q. What have we learned from previous disease outbreaks?

One of the key things we've learned is that we really need to engage with communities to help people understand the importance of handwashing with soap.

Effective handwashing can be motivated by fear, but as soon as an emergency is over, people fall back to normal practices. It is essential to listen, have conversations, and build trust rather than just telling people what to do. Over time, this is what ultimately leads to acceptance or rejection.

Q. So how does ServePlanet work with communities to tackle outbreaks of disease?

First, we assess the situation, and we talk to people. We listen, and feed back to the community what we have heard. We ask people "what do you think you can do?" and "what help do you need from us?"

Q. How does ServePlanet prepare for a coronavirus outbreak in the places where we work?

It depends on the stage of the outbreak in each country. We do a quick assessment, speak to governments and other organisations to find out what they are already doing to halt the spread of the virus, and what support they need. We make sure our coronavirus response is part of our ongoing work.

Where there are travel restrictions and physical distancing measures, we seek to understand the structures, contacts, and networks that will help us to get to the people who need us most. As well as our hand-washing and other coronavirus prevention work, we provide clean water supplies and sanitation in places where people are quarantined and have been providing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers such as masks, gloves and aprons.