THE Department of Health has launched a new campaign to highlight the importance of washing your hands after revealing 80 percent of infections are transmitted through touch.

The campaign builds on the work recently undertaken to raise awareness of preventing the spread of MRSA in sporting facilities.

Health Minister David Anderson MHK said: "Having clean hands in the hospital is very important but we live our lives all over the Island and it is here in the community where the majority of diseases are spread, such as colds and flu, MRSA, and diarrhoea and vomiting.

"I was shocked when informed that two-thirds of the population do not wash and dry their hands at important times during the day."

The new campaign has three simple messages – clean your hands frequently, remember when to wash and catch it, bin it, kill it.

Pam Kermode, health protection nurse, said: "People will often wash their hands if they are visibly dirty. However, as you touch people, surfaces and objects, you accumulate on your hands germs that are not visible to the naked eye.

"Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of germs, so protecting yourself and others from harmful diseases.

"The Department of Health works constantly to stress the importance of proper hand hygiene. Washing hands effectively is easy. It is recommended that we sing 'Happy Birthday' twice through whilst rubbing all parts of the hands with soapy bubbles.

"If you can't get to a sink, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel, but remember that some viruses are not killed by these hand-rubs."

Remember...

- Clean your hands frequently: Thoroughly wash the hands with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds and rub to get lots of bubbles all over the hands which will loosen and remove the oils and germs. Follow this with a good rinse and then dry properly.

- Remember when to wash: After you use the toilet, change a nappy, touch an animal, blow your nose, cough or sneeze, or handle rubbish. It is also important to wash hands before preparing or eating food, treating wounds or giving medicine and tending to a sick or injured person.

- Catch it, bin it, kill it: You can reduce the spread of germs by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue whenever you sneeze or cough. If you don't have a tissue, coughing or sneezing into your arm rather than into your hands is preferred.