Health and hygiene
WHO defines health as complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease. Hygiene means habits that keep us and our surroundings clean.
Three sides of health
| Kind | Means | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Physical health | The body and its organs work well | Healthy weight, good sleep, energy, fitness |
| Mental health | Able to handle stress and emotions | Calm, confident, able to think clearly |
| Social health | Gets along well with others | Good friendships, respect for others, helps the community |
Personal hygiene
- Bathe daily, and keep nails short and clean.
- Wash hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.
- Brush teeth twice a day and rinse the mouth after meals.
- Wear clean, dry clothes, and change socks and innerwear daily.
- Eat balanced, freshly cooked food and drink safe water.
- Exercise, play outdoors and sleep 8 to 10 hours.
- During menstruation, use clean pads or cloth and change them regularly.
Community (social) hygiene
- A supply of safe, clean drinking water.
- Proper sewage disposal and toilets for every home, with no open defecation.
- Regular garbage collection, with wet and dry waste kept apart.
- Draining stagnant water to stop mosquitoes that spread dengue and malaria.
- Clean markets, hospitals, bus stands and other public places.
- Immunisation (vaccination) programmes for children.
Why hygiene matters
Many diseases spread through dirty hands, food, water and air. Germs such as bacteria and viruses, and also worms, cause diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, jaundice and worm infections. Simple hygiene breaks this chain. For example, washing hands with soap removes germs before they reach the mouth.
Washing hands with soap before eating your tiffin, and drinking boiled or filtered water, prevents diarrhoea and typhoid, which rise in the rainy season.
2 marks: “Define health according to WHO.” A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
2 marks: “List any four habits of personal hygiene.” Daily bath; handwashing with soap before meals and after the toilet; brushing teeth twice a day; clean clothes; safe food and water.
4 marks: “What is hygiene? Explain personal and community hygiene.” Hygiene keeps the body and surroundings clean. Personal: bath, handwashing, teeth, clothes, safe food. Community: safe water, sewage disposal, garbage collection, no stagnant water.
Health = Body + Mind + Society: all three, not just 'no disease'.