BASIC HYGIENE

BASIC HYGIENE
III John 2; Exodus 15:26; 23:25, 26
In the beginning, God created man in His own image; holy and healthy. Our first father
and mother were called Adam and Eve. God put them in a beautiful garden full of trees
with good fruits, which was more than enough for them to eat. They had pure air to
breathe in. The garden was so clean that God used to visit them during the cool hour of
the day. Remember this saying. “Cleanliness is next to godliness”. God blessed them
and they were fruitful and multiplied- (Genesis 1:26-28). But because of their
disobedience, God drove them out of the beautiful and hygienic garden. God wants us
to obey Him and live a holy life so that we can enjoy good health spiritually and
physically – (Exodus 15:26; 23:25-26).
A. WHAT IS HYGIENE? Hygiene is the practice of keeping your surroundings,
yourself, your house, the church and your school clean in order to prevent illness and
diseases. Hygiene is also described as a science of rules for healthy living and
cleanliness. It is a way of promoting health and freedom from diseases and germs.
Basic hygiene is then, referred to as, the foundation for healthy living and cleanliness.
We shall learn about two types of hygiene: Food Hygiene and Personal Hygiene.
B. FOOD HYGIENE: This has to do with the cleanliness of all that we eat and drink.
In food Hygiene, we need to obey the following hygienic rules in order to remain healthy.
(i) Do not eat unripe or overripe fruits. (ii) Wash all your fruits with clean water before
eating them. (iii) Use only fresh vegetables and healthy ingredients for your cooking. Do
not use rotten tomatoes, onions and pepper. (iv) Cover your food well and don‟t allow
flies to perch (touch) on it. (v) Eat food that is well cooked. (vi) Wash your hands with
soap and clean water before and after eating, and also after using the toilet, (restroom)
(vii) Always drink clean, tasteless and colourless water. (viii) As much as possible, avoid
eating left over food except it is well preserved and heated. (ix) Do not take too much
sweets and sweetened beverages but drink plenty of water. (x) Always eat balanced diet
to make you grow well and healthy.
C. PERSONAL HYGIENE: This involves cleanliness of your physical body and
environment.
To be physically fit and healthy, boys and girls must obey the following hygienic rules:
1. Clean your environment regularly to prevent infections and malaria. Remove all
stagnant water in cans, broken pots and bottles and in gutters around you.
2. Sweep your room every day, dust your bed and wash your bed sheets regularly.
3. Use mosquito nets to prevent insect bites.
4. Have your bath at least twice a day to prevent body odour, and body infections
like Eczema, Ringworm and craw-craw.
5. Use soap, sponge and water to bath.
6. Brush your teeth at least twice a day to prevent tooth and gum decay. Use tooth
paste and brush, or chewing stick.
7. Get your finger nails cut short because they can carry germs which may give you
worms, diarrhea and stomach disorder.
8. Wash your clothes regularly and dry them in the sun. Where possible, iron them
to kill the germs that can hide in them and also to keep them neat and smart.
9. Wash, plait or barb your hair regularly to avoid lice that may feed on your blood
which could cause diseases.
10. Avoid using sharp objects to clean your ears.
11. You must not put any object in your nose and ears.
12. Avoid using another person‟s sponge, soap, tooth brush and towel.
13. Don‟t use too much cream on your skin it can block the sweat pores.
14. Do not play or be careless with electrical appliances to avoid electrical shock.
15. Do not put your fingers in your mouth all the time.
16. Don‟t play with sharp objects like razor blade, knives, nails and pins.
17. Sleep well and ensure good ventilation in your room.
Above all, every sinful boy or girl must repent now. Turn away from your sins and
accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Then begin to obey the hygienic rules. Friends
of Jesus also, must be watchful and prayerful and obey also all the hygienic rules. Then
the promise of God to keep us healthy spiritually and physically will be yours in Jesus‟
Name.