Cleaning can save lives

MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that in developing countries such as the Philippines, 80 percent of all diseases are the result of a combination of poor hygiene, contaminated water, and poor sanitation?

“Lack of effective sanitation and poor hygiene practices are responsible for almost 3.5 million deaths of children every year,” says Dr. Lester Deniega, president of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP). “In fact, with regular cleaning, mothers can increase newborn survival rates by up to 44 percent.”

On the strength of the insight that “Cleaning can save lives,” representatives from the Department of Health, National Institute of Health, Lysol Philippines, and several local government units have come together to launch the First Philippine Spring Cleaning Day initiative.

As the first major activity of its proponents, the country’s first-ever Spring Cleaning Day will be held on Wednesday, May 11. There will be a simultaneous clean-up across five cities: Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Manila, and Las Piñas.

Statistics show that there are 295 bacteria for every square inch of household surfaces. These usually dwell on phones, faucets, light switches, computer keyboards, and shower drain areas, kitchen sinks, and toilet seats — everyday things in the home that we take for granted.

“What people don’t realize is that cleaning can save lives. Without knowing it, your home can become a haven for disease-causing bacteria and viruses. These bacteria can be transferred from person to person by direct or indirect contact,” says Marichu Gozun of Lysol (Reckitt Benckiser).

For more details, log on to www.philippinespringcleaningday.com and www.facebook.com/philippinespringcleaningday