The Covid-19 pandemic helped us realise the importance of washing our hands. It is an act that has been taught to us as children but many of us still take it for granted due to sheer laziness or lack of importance for personal hygiene. Every year, October 15 is celebrated as World Handwashing Day to raise awareness about the simple act of washing one's hands. Even though the act may seem a very normal practice in our daily lives, experts say it helps us to avoid getting infected with diseases and keeps us safe at all times.

Dr Umang Agrawal, infectious diseases consultant at PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC in Mahim, says with dirty hands, one could get many diseases such as diarrhoea, viral infections that cause cold, dysentery and fever among others. In fact, dirty hands may lead to one suffering from seasonal diseases such as gastroenteritis, a disease that people suffer from during the monsoon. With the rains almost over and the Covid-19 pandemic tapering, one must not forget the importance of washing hands. It is something the last two years have taught us in more ways than one about the ill-effects of personal hygiene.