Even with the hope of a return to a semblance of normalcy, something the pandemic taught people worldwide is the importance of handwashing and hygiene. A continued focus on this should be encouraged as it remains an important part of containing the spread of the virus and help prevent future pandemics.
The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says the company supports the initiative to encourage the continued washing of hands going forward and has joined forces with Gideon Guard. “International statistics show us that hand washing may not be as natural a process as we assume. The CDC says 25% of people forget to wash their hands at important times, such as before they eat. Another study in the US says one in four Americans do not wash their hands regularly.
“While similar stats in South Africa are not yet available, it can be assumed we face similar stats, possibly even worse in areas where water is not easily accessible. That is why activations with Gideon Guard are so important to teach people about how handwashing can make a difference. It is through activations like these that hand washing becomes a natural part of everyday life for many.”
The next activation is taking place today, 30 September 2021, at the Bara Taxi Rank. The activities of the day will include good hygiene practice education, correct handwash demonstration, a question-and-answer session and prize giveaways. Anyone who makes use of the rank is encouraged to join in to take some valuable information home.
The managing director of Gideon Guard, Segametsi Songwane, is looking forward to another successful campaign where lives can be changed. “Our win for the day is for community members to know what to do to prevent oneself from contracting communicable diseases while educating all on the easiest methods to use to wash your hands and still keep environments clean and bacteria free.
“The partnership with MasterDrive will enable us to reach out to more township and community members. We have also made some improvements and the events will be different this time. Participants can expect it to be more engaging than before, not forgetting a chance to have fun while learning,” says Songwane.
Hand hygiene in transport, whether you make use of public or private vehicles, is an important issue. “Our work with Gideon Guard will give this essential issue the attention it deserves and has the potential to have a major impact in reducing the spread of disease,” says Herbert.