Wash your hands before, after meals

JAKARTA (JP): Washing your hands before and after each meal may sound basic, but a leading doctor says the practice has been largely neglected.

Most people only wash theirs after meal, said Kartono Muhammad, chairman of the Indonesian Medical Doctors Association (IDI).

Such was the concern of IDI about public health that it has agreed to cooperate with PT Unilever, the cosmetics and household goods manufacturer, to convey some basic messages through one of the products in the same way that cigarette boxes nowadays carry health warnings.

Kartono said that through such messages, IDI hopes to change some habits to lead to healthier living.

Under the agreement, signed by Kartono and M. Hatta of Unilever, the cosmetics giant has agreed to print the IDI's messages on Lifebuoy, one of its most widely sold soap brands. (emb)