BY: CATHERINE SAW

The cause of the spread of many viruses and diseases is because of poor sanitation and lack of education on the importance of practising good hygiene and the general indifference of Malaysians in inculcating among themselves hygienic values.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the authorities have stressed in the Standard Operating Procedure the importance of ‘kebersihan diri’ or the cleanliness of oneself which is important in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Other diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diphtheria, diarrhea, food poisoning are all due to the poor hygiene of food handlers and the unclean stalls, eateries and facilities which Malaysians patronise daily.

When meals are improperly cooked in dirty, unclean premises, people suffer from a host of ailments and in the long run they will also encounter health issues that can be severe or lead to an untimely death.

This is why it is important for everyone to practise cleanliness and good hygiene and although it may be an effort required on the part of individuals people must abide and conform and not adopt a couldn’t -care-less attitude.

If the current unhygienic situation can be improved upon the citizens of this country and migrant workers included can help boost the Quality-of-Life and more importantly it can lead to the eradication of many unwanted viruses and diseases.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher