PERSONAL AND HEALTHY CARE.

PERSONAL HYGIENE: Hygiene starts with cleanliness of the body. (a) Face: We should wash our face as soon as we wake up in the morning. This should be followed by cleaning of our teeth. (b) Teeth: Cleaning of teeth should be done twice a day, first and last thing of each day or as your dentist instructs you. This is to prevent teeth infection. If you don't clean your teeth, it will develop caries (decay) of the teeth which can lead to serious problem of the whole body. The nerves in the teeth ate interconnected to the ear and brain. If the teeth are infected, it can therefore radiate to the ear and the brain. Anyone who has experienced tooth ache before, will understand. Apart from the fact that neglected teeth can cause disease, the beauty of one is in the teeth. Socially, if the teeth is not well kept, one can not confidently smile to show the beautiful set of teeth that God has given one. Moreover the mouth will smell. One will have bad breath (halutosis). Change your tooth brush every three (3) months. Remember the advertisement of Daily Need tooth paste which runs thus "I won't do it, till you've done it, till you've daily need". Visit the dentist at least once a year and when necessary. (c) Nose: Nose should be cleaned with handkerchief to remove the dirt trapped by the nasal hair. Some people are in the habit of cutting the nasal hair. This is not proper because the hair in the nose help to prevent too much dust and germs entering the lungs. (d) Eyes: Eyes should be cleaned after we wash our face. Be very careful on what you put on your eyes in the name of beauty. (e) Ears: There is natural oil in the ear (wax) that helps trap dust and germs. Clean the ear with cotton buds, but be careful not to damage the ear drum, and especially when cleaning baby's ear. (f) Hair: We have hair all over our bodies but there are areas where it is more dense, that is the head, armpit, chin and the pubic area. (i) Head-Hair: This should be kept clean. Wash your hair once a week and use suitable shampoo even if you wear short hair and oil it with hair cream, then comb it. Women should plait their hair if they choose to and wash it at least once in two weeks preferably after loosening it. But if you plait a thousand braids, you can still wash it every two weeks while you keep it as two months or more. For men plaiting, it is not our culture, but if you choose to, please keep it clean. Don't breed lice as lice love dirty hair. Oil the hair once a week. Perming: For people perming, make good styles and retouch your hair when it is due. The beauty of a woman is in her hair. If you wear short hair visit the hair cutter (barber) when necessary and please go with your own barbing kit, to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. (ii) Arm Pit: It is very important to shave the hair on your arm pit. This will make your arm pit clean and prevent stains on your blouses and shirts. Use roll-on to mask the odour. (iii) Pubic Hair: Pubic hair should be cut because the area, if not taken care of serves as medium for growing microbes. If the hair in this area is long, it can cut the surrounding skin and because there is no much air circulation in this area, it can lead to bad odour. Shave your pubic hair. Women should wipe with tissue paper after urinating. (iv) For men who keep beard, take proper care so that one will not look like masquerade for young children to be scared of. If you shave, do it at the right time. (g) Nails: Ideally nails should be cut short. For those who can wear long nails, please take care of them. Women who use nail cortex should make sure they use it rightly, i.e make sure the cortex covers the nail. If it is wearing of, renew it. Remember long nails can harbour germs and if we ingest the germs while eating, it can lead to diarrhoea and stomach upset. Cut your nails every week. Please when going to the saloon for pedicure and manicure go with your kit to prevent HIV/Aids infection. Prevention is better than cure. (h) Care of the skin: The skin covers the whole body. We must wash our bodies daily. Use toilet soap. Use body cream or lotion to prevent dryness and cracking of the skin. Bathing can be repeated after a long journey or a dirt or dusty work. The skin has pores (opening) where sweats and some waste come out of the body. Use body spray or deodorants to mask body odour. (i) Clothing: Like my Health Education taught us in Primary School, whatever you put on your body must be very clean and fresh. The ones touching the skin must be very clean and must be changed daily. Wheither you are a male or female, your under wears i.e your(pants, bra, vest/singlet, petit coat) must be change or as often as necessary. The outer clothing must be clean and ironed. When you are neatly dressed, you will be confident to talk and move freely in the society. But if you are dirty and untidy you will be ashamed of even talking in the society. Brothers a sisters, cleanliness is next to Godliness. So be clean always.