When Does Your “Pwede Na” Attitude Become Risky? Recent Survey Reveals only 50% of Filipinos Observe Safe Wash Habits

A recent 2020 Philippines Handwashing Habits Survey* revealed that 99% of Filipinos washed their hands more in the last 6 months, but only 50% do the proper steps for a safe wash. Despite numerous campaigns from health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH), some Filipinos continue to fall into the pits of the “puwede na” attitude even when it comes to handwashing.

The study identified that “washing quickly with soap and water” is the commonly observed practice among other people, and that 50% are guilty of unsafe handwashing habits like washing without soap, washing for less than 20 seconds, or even just using tissue.

In the health guidelines released by the DOH, safe handwashing is regarded as the first line of defense to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. #SafeWash includes the use of soap and running water and hand scrubbing with an adequate period of at least 20 seconds.

While these public health advisories remain to be rampant, the survey has uncovered that Filipinos’ bad hand hygiene habits die hard.

Filipinos Are Guilty of These Common Handwashing Mistakes Without Realizing It

These incidents of unsafe handwashing are said to be commonly observed at home with 40% of the respondents having at least seen someone they know practice improper handwashing.

The real problem with unsafe handwashing is that this habit is deep-rooted in every Filipino. At one point everyone is guilty of committing these poor practices: the quick washing of hands, spraying a small amount of water to the hands, mere wiping or rubbing of hands, and the use of tissue paper to clean hands.

Several researches have shown that handwashing habit is inherent in nature. It develops in the early life stages and becomes a habitual behavior as one ages, and this poses the risk that when one grows up with poor hand hygiene habits, it can be ingrained for a lifetime without realizing it.

Cross-contamination is the main consequence when people do not exercise a safe wash. Respiratory illnesses like the common cold and influenza, and nosocomial infections like E.coli and MRSA are caused by the spreading of germs and bacteria on the hands.

This lack of knowledge on safe wash practices was validated in the survey with an alarming number of less than 5% of the respondents who do not realize the key times when to wash hands. This includes -- before eating, after coming from outside the house, after using the toilet, after eating, and after shaking someone’s hands, as only the first two key times were regarded as important by the respondents.

*The PH Handwashing Habits Survey was conducted by Brandworks Market Intelligence and Consulting with a sample size of 240 Filipino men and women, aged 18 to 50, based in Metro Manila from SEC ABCD. The study was a series of face-to-face interviews within the period of September 4 – 7, 2020.

DOH Promotes Proper Safe Wash Habits

The Department of Health (DOH) launched in August its nationwide information campaign with easy-to-remember BIDA Solusyon guidelines that urge Filipinos to partake in behavioral changes to reduce the transmission of the virus. The guidelines include wearing masks, hand sanitation, social distancing, and obtaining of correct information about the pandemic.

In its communications, the DOH highlights the importance of safe handwashing habits outlining the following steps: First, wet hands with clean, running water and apply soap. Lather the hands and rub them together with soap by cleaning thoroughly from the back of the hands, the palm, between the fingers, under the nails. Scrub the hands for at least 20 seconds and not less. Then rinse the hands under clean and running water and finally dry the hands using a clean towel.

This adequate habit of a safe wash is proven to destroy the structure of the virus, thus, greatly minimizing chances of contracting and transmitting the virus.

Safe handwashing, along with the wearing of mask and practice of social distancing, is the first line of defense against germs and viruses. Today, the duty lies in the hands of every Filipino to teach and learn the value of a safe wash that starts at home, and not fall into the traps of the “pwede na” mentality.

*The PH Handwashing Habits Survey was conducted by Brandworks Market Intelligence and Consulting with a sample size of 240 Filipino men and women, aged 18 to 50, based in Metro Manila from SEC ABCD. The study was a series of face-to-face interviews within the period of September 4 – 7, 2020.

Maging Responsible Pet Owner, Pabakunahan ang inyong mga alagang aso laban sa rabies

Lahat tayo ay may kwentong nakagat, muntik ng makagat, nakalmot or nadamba ng aso. Di ko maalala kung nakagat na ba ako or nadamba pero naalala ko na dati may alaga kaming aso sa bahay na puro politician ang pangalan. At alam ko na hanggang ngayon ay takot na takot pa din ako sa mga dogs. 

From Orbos, to Marcos, to Tolentino. Matapang talaga yung aso namin na alaga ni tatay, yung tipong eye contact lang kayo eh lalabasan ka na ng ngipin na may kasamang angil na ready ka ng lapain. Di mo pedeng biruin or mag  first name basis kayo dahil yari ka at tatahulan ka na ng bongga. Parang laging badtrip sa ken mga asong alaga ni tatay, parang laging may hashtag na #dontme sa collar. Di ko naman sila inaano. Lagi silang naka leash or nakatali, kaya di ko maimagined pag nakakawala at nagkataon nasa loob ako ng bahay. Susme, attack siguro sa ken ng bongga si Tolentino, yan yung name ng aso namin noon.  At malamang sa hindi maka experience din ako ng injection sa tyan. Ayeeeee!

Lester Zapanta, PH Dog Whisperer

Magmula noon, marunong na kong tumingin or makipagkapwa aso sa aso. Kapag di mo kilala at nasalubong mo sa kalye, wag kang tatakbo pwera na lang kung pang karerahan ka din tumakbo yung di ka maabutan. Huwag magpakita ng takot, dahil alam yan ng aso, nasesense nila yan maniwala ka. Huwag kang babati sa di mo kilalang aso,  kase di kayo close, di ka nila kilala kaya maging civil ka na lang. Huwag makipagharutan pwera na lang kung alagang aso mo sya natutulog kayo ng sabay, amo ka nya at alam mo sa sarili mo na may bakuna syang regular. Yes, dapat po yearly ang pagpapabakuna kay Bantay, Julia, Mark, Akiya or anu pa man pangalan ng pet dog nyo.

Kung sa malas ay nakagat ka at nagiisip ka pa at nasabi ng pet owner na nakakalmot or kagat sayo na may bakuna ang alaga nila. Or in your case di mo maalala kung napabakunahan mo na nga ba ang pet dog mo.

Sundin lamang ang BILIS 

BIlisan ang paghugas ng sugat

LInisin ng Alcohol

Sumangguni sa doctor ukol sa tamang pag gamot ng sugat

Rex Tomen, Rabies Awareness Advocate

The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) led the celebration of World Rabies Day underscoring the theme: Rabies: Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate., which emphasizes the two crucial actions that communities can do to prevent rabies. It also reflects the global target to eliminate all human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted to humans through animal bites or even scratches, most commonly by dogs. It is vaccine preventable, but once infection begins, death is inevitable.In the Philippines, rabies continues to be a public health problem andis responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually, with children having the highest risk.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial

“Rabies is considered a neglected disease that is 100% fatal but 100% preventable. Effective and safe medicines have been available for decades to prevent the disease in humans and animals. None of these deaths should have occurred since we have the necessary interventions to prevent rabies suchas: (1) promotion of responsible pet ownership, (2) early consultation when bitten by animals and (3) timely administration of vaccines,”Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial explained.

From 2010-2015, 1,463 deaths were recorded by DOH from human rabies and 180 deaths from human rabies were noted from January 1 to September 24 2016.

A total of 783,879 animal bites across the country were registered in 2015. This is 10% higher than in 2014 when the total number of animal bites was 683,802 cases. The increase in the number of reported cases is attributed to the improved surveillance and services which enabled bite cases to seek treatment at established public Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTC) and/or private Animal Bite Centers.As of March 2016, a total of 486 ABTCs are located all over the country, 32 of which are in Metro Manila.

As part of the rabies elimination campaign, a total of 41 provinces/areas were declared ‘rabies-free’ by DOH and DA, Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) from 2008-2016.

The DOH, through the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) in partnership with different agencies and local government units continue to implement strategies and activities to respond to this public health problem. One strategy is the provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in all DOH-recognized ABTCs/ABCs, and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) especially for high risk individuals and students in high incidence zones. Meanwhile, PhilHealth through its Animal Bite Treatment Package defrays the cost of PEP treatment among all qualified members.

The DOH has lined up various advocacy campaigns to disseminate information about the illness and how to prevent it. The DOH also encourages pet owners to have household pets vaccinated at designated time periods. Lastly, the public is warned against approaching stray and possibly rabid animals and is reminded to immediately go to the nearest ABTCs/ABCs when needed.

“Maging responsible. Kung ikaw ay may alagang hayop,pabakunahan ito agad laban sa rabies. Kung ikaw naman ay nakagat ng hayop, huwag itong ipagsawalang bahala, pumunta agad sa pinakamalapit na animal bite treatment center upang ito’y mabigyan ng kaukulang lunas o bakuna laban sa rabies.” Secretary Ubial concluded.