Soap the answer?
Stacy Hsu’s article outlined the importance of washing one’s hands with soap (“CDC lauds soap in battle against winter diseases,” Jan. 3, page 3). Using soap is something that should be done daily regardless of the season. The article outlined many important factors, including the possibility of spreading disease through lack of hygiene. However, it failed to mention the slight possibility of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) is to be applauded for informing the public on the importance of using soap.
However, the centers must do more to create awareness. While many people in Taiwan use soap and water to wash their hands, many facilities, including malls, parks, Taiwan Railways Administration stations and schools do not provide any soap dispensers in public bathrooms.
In places that do, commonly only one soap dispenser is provided and when that sink is occupied, it is ignored if not empty.
The centers could also raise awareness by making more public service announcements.
Furthermore, businesses, especially restaurants, should do more to require staff to use soap before working.
This can also be seen with restaurant workers who take out garbage. I cannot say how many restaurant and kitchen workers I have seen who do not wash their hands, as well as restaurants that do not provide soap in bathrooms shared by customers and workers.
Usually I will walk out of such a restaurant and tell my friends to avoid the place.
The traditional answer of: “We did not have soap, or were not taught to use it” must be forgotten.
I love Taiwan and hope to see it flourish in years to come.
Joshua David Friednash
Hsinchu City
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