Washing our hands is a simple task that most people do on instinct after using the bathroom, before cooking and more. A simple bar of soap can go a long way by saving over 600,000 children every year.The speaker Myriam Sidibe explains to us that because of the lack of hand-washing 6.6 million children never make it to their fifth birthday. Just by washing your hands that can drastically decrease that number.
Myriam Sidibe explains how statistics show that four out of five people don't wash their hands when they come out of the toilet globally. This number is not acceptable, because soap is available. In 90 percent of households in India, 94 percent in Kenya, you will find soap. Even in countries where soap is lowest they will still have it.
The speaker talks about a trip that she made to India and met a young boy named Mayank. He represents a portion of families who own soap but don't use it for washing hands. In Mayank's family, soap is used for bathing, soap is used for laundry, soap is used for washing dishes. His parents deliberately keep it away from him not knowing the benefits of him using the soap. The common young child picks up bacteria from playing, and mainly from their homes. They aren't safe from germs anywhere, so washing hands help in making sure kids don't get sick too often.
I think that this TED talk has taught me the importance of a minor task that we take for granted can save millions of lives every year. The speaker wants more awareness on this subject so more kids can reach the age of five and live their lives. From now on I will be sure to wash my hands for 20 seconds.
Myriam Sidibe explains how statistics show that four out of five people don't wash their hands when they come out of the toilet globally. This number is not acceptable, because soap is available. In 90 percent of households in India, 94 percent in Kenya, you will find soap. Even in countries where soap is lowest they will still have it.
The speaker talks about a trip that she made to India and met a young boy named Mayank. He represents a portion of families who own soap but don't use it for washing hands. In Mayank's family, soap is used for bathing, soap is used for laundry, soap is used for washing dishes. His parents deliberately keep it away from him not knowing the benefits of him using the soap. The common young child picks up bacteria from playing, and mainly from their homes. They aren't safe from germs anywhere, so washing hands help in making sure kids don't get sick too often.
I think that this TED talk has taught me the importance of a minor task that we take for granted can save millions of lives every year. The speaker wants more awareness on this subject so more kids can reach the age of five and live their lives. From now on I will be sure to wash my hands for 20 seconds.