Maintain Sterilisation During Eid: Muhammadiyah Reminds Public Not to Casually Touch Babies
The tradition of family visits and gatherings during Eid al-Fitr is often an anticipated moment for sharing happiness. However, beneath these warm social interactions lies a health risk for the family’s most vulnerable members: infants and toddlers.
Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership (PP) has issued a special warning to the public to exercise greater discipline in maintaining hygiene when interacting with children during the Eid holiday.
Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Chairman Agus Taufiqurrahman emphasised that simple actions such as hand-washing are a mandatory procedure before touching or carrying infants.
Agus explained that infants and toddlers have different biological characteristics from adults. Their still-developing immune systems mean that exposure to even the smallest germs can have serious consequences.
“Children are not miniature adults. They are still in a developmental stage and are highly susceptible to various disease agents,” Agus stated.
According to him, hands of adults that appear clean are not necessarily free from harmful microorganisms. Direct contact with germ-contaminated hands can become a rapid transmission route for infection.
“When we touch toddlers, we should be in a clean state. It is therefore important to maintain hygiene, especially of the hands, before touching a baby,” he said.
He added: “If hands contain germs, there is concern that the baby will be exposed, potentially resulting in disease and infection.”
Beyond the threat of bacterial or viral infection, hygiene factors are also closely linked to children’s skin sensitivity.
Agus reminded that residue from certain substances, such as food remnants, dust, or chemicals, which cling to adult hands can trigger allergic reactions on a baby’s delicate skin.
“Hands should not contain substances that are unsuitable for a child’s sensitive skin, as this could trigger an allergic reaction,” he warned.
Furthermore, amid the bustle of family gatherings, parents are expected to provide extra protection. In addition to ensuring that visiting guests are in a clean state, parents are asked to pay attention to the clothing worn by children to match environmental conditions, to minimise exposure to pollutants or extreme weather.
As a conclusion, Muhammadiyah appealed to guests and the extended family to develop self-awareness. Adults should refrain from touching or carrying children if they feel their physical condition is below par or if they have not cleaned themselves after travel.
This collective awareness is important so that Eid celebrations do not end with children falling ill due to negligence in maintaining basic hygiene standards amid intense social interaction.