LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – The Season 4 Episode 1 of the Internet-based Intervention for the Development of Agriculture ng ATI Ngayon (i-BIDA nATIn) started off with the topic on Hand Washing and Personal Hygiene. This was delivered by Jennifer J. Dejarme, Sr. Science Research Specialist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), last October 3, 2020 via Google Meet.

Dejarme mentioned how the practice of handwashing was imposed in the 1800s after it was found out that the unsanitized hands of physicians have caused high mortality cases among newly-born babies they were in contact with. Dejarme also pointed out parts of the human body where bacteria thrive in exponential numbers. She mentioned intestines and saliva as well as the forehead having an average of 10,000 – 1,000,000 bacteria/cm3. Meanwhile, the hand has about 1500 bacteria on each square centimeter. This is the reason why it needs to be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to prevent food contamination, the spread of food-borne illnesses, and protection against viruses.

Dejarme further discussed about personal hygiene. This does not only mean maintaining a clean body but also the use of protective garments and gears, especially among food handlers. Personal hygiene prevents contamination of food with microorganisms, dirt, and foreign bodies.