4 in 10 tertiary students didn't wash hands after loo
THE PrimaDeli food-poisoning debacle reminds me of something I
noticed when assisting with examinations at a tertiary institution
in the past year.
I found that many of our country's most well-educated young people,
including foreign students, don't wash their hands after using the
lavatory. At least 40 per cent of youths whom I escorted to the
restroom did not even run their hands under water; only about 20
per cent actually bothered with hand-wash detergent and water. Even
then, hand-washing was cursory at best.
If our creme de la creme don't practise basic hygiene, we should be
concerned. Imagine shaking hands with such future leaders, or
sharing food with them.
What more can we expect from other members of our society?
Sars should have taught everyone the importance of good hygienic
habits. How quickly people forget!
Clearly, we need to go back to the basics, for all levels of
society.
Chua Siew Gek (Ms)