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Education campaign on good personal habits
The Department of Health is launching a territory-wide education campaign to remind the public of the importance of good personal hygiene so as to enhance public health.
The campaign, bearing the theme "Practise good personal habits for better public health", was organised with the sponsorship of the Urban Council and the Regional Council.
"For the sake of public health, observation of good personal hygiene is very important," a spokesman for the department said today (Sunday).
He urged members of the public to observe the following practices:
Do not litter - Put rubbish into a properly covered dustbin and dispose of it at least once a day. Refuse attracts rodents and harmful pests, which are main carriers of gastro-intestinal diseases such as cholera.
Do not spit - Spit into a handkerchief or a piece of tissue paper. Spitting is unsightly and spreads diseases such as tuberculosis.
Always keep toilet clean - Flush toilet after each use and keep toilet dry and clean. Do not allow children to urinate in street or gully. Stop dogs from fouling public areas. Make use of dog latrines. Infectious diseases such as typhoid as well as food poisoning are related to food contaminated by insect vectors carrying germs from dirty toilets or excretal matter.
Always keep hands clean - Wash hands with soap before handling food, after handling refuse and visiting toilet. Dirty hands can carry germs to the mouth.
The spokesman said the maximum penalty for breaching the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances (Urban Council) By-laws or the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances (Regional Council) By-laws is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.