Hand-washing has been the most emphasised action in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Hand washing has been done with either water and soap or sanitizers. However, due to high demand of sanitizers, their prices have been hiked besides the booming of fake sanitizers on the market.
This created worry amongst Ugandans but according to the President of the Uganda Medical Association, Dr Ekwaro Obuku, the public should mind less about the hiked prices of sanitizers as soap and water are more effective when it comes to cleaning the virus off the hands.
Obuku said panic is the cause of the escalating shortages of the equipment used in fighting against the spread of Coronavirus.
“Panic is causing shortages of chloroquine, an increase in price, shortage of sanitizers and subsequent increase in their prices. At this moment, panic can destabilise the community,” Obuku said.
He said sanitizers have become fashionable with many lacking proper ingredients. He emphasized that hand-washing with soap is the way to go.
“Alcohol is as good as water. In terms of effectiveness, it does not fight against COVID-19. Water and soap have more advantages than the rest,” he said.
On the issue of proper hand washing, Obuku explained, “You are supposed to sanitise for over 20 seconds, rub and let the sanitizer sink in. Wash your hands for 40 seconds to one minute.”
Obuku also advised that not everybody needs the masks, “Those who are sick or have symptoms put them on so that they do not transmit the virus. A caretaker and a health care professional must have it.”