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Focus on hand hygiene
23/09/2009
The importance of good hand washing to beat bugs comes under the spotlight across Scotland over the coming weeks.
A roadshow team will visit 29 towns and cities to spread the word about the need for good hand hygiene. And the team will be equipped with a UV lightbox to allow people to see just how clean their hands are.
The Germs - Wash Your Hands of Them roadshow, part of an ongoing hand hygiene campaign, kicks off in Glasgow today and tours throughout Scotland, from Aberdeen and Inverness in the north to Dumfries and Kilmarnock in the south.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Washing your hands is the most important thing anyone can do to stop the spread of germs - from superbugs like MRSA and C.diff to viruses like colds and flu.
"It's not difficult but it's important that we get it right, particularly as pandemic flu continues to circulate in Scotland.
"As well as highlighting how well people are washing their hands, the roadshow teams will also remind people about the importance of using a disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing to prevent the spread of colds and flu."
Scotland's national hand hygiene campaign was launched in January 2007 and is delivered by Health Protection Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
The roadshow will visit 'high traffic' areas including shopping centres, high streets and bus and train stations.