Hygiene are those things we do that help us stay clean and out of getting infected. It starts from what we call daily routine of bathing, washing our hands before and after eating, brushing, dressing neatly among many others.
Does Money Affect One's Hygiene?
My answer is yes because it's an important factor. Money does have its way of making one maintain a high standard of hygiene. Imagine having the money to afford all the necessities you need to stay clean and healthy. On the other hand, imagine how hard it usually is for those feeding from hand to mouth where these necessities are difficult to come by. When money is available, hygiene becomes easier not that there are no alternatives but sometimes even those that rely on the alternative find it difficult to use them. I will come back to that.
I know so many areas in developed cities that having access to clean water is super expensive. In areas like that, hygiene becomes difficult for those who can't afford clean water, they are limited to what they can afford.
Also, being able to afford hygiene products becomes a subject of concern for so many. Not all families can afford soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads and the like on a monthly basis for quality hygiene. This is where money plays a vital role for proper hygiene.
We all know how deadly the impact of poor hygiene can be when it strikes. I have a friend who never believed houseflies transmit dysentery until she experienced it. Sometimes, we take cleanliness for granted and do things consciously waiting for whatever that would happen next. The negative impact of poor hygiene is sickness, death and low self esteem.
I remember back then in my primary school on 27th May. All of us put much effort in looking our best but there is this one classmate of mine who would always look like his own condition was the worst. His look on that day has killed all his confidence, nobody wanted him to be part of the ongoing activities as we all believed his appearance would reduce our chances of coming out among the best.
Can Neatness Exist Independent of Wealth?
I know with money at hand, that young man then would have had the money to cut his hair, mend his torn short or even get a new one. Money is an important factor to maintaining good hygiene.
I remember at the early stages of my writing, >when money is available, hygiene becomes easier not that there are no alternatives but sometimes even those that rely on the alternative find it difficult to use them. I will come back to that.
I said I will come back to the point I was trying to make. When money fails to come by, there are many ways we can still maintain hygiene without wealth. Below are few:
Natural method: God has blessed humanity with nature and creative thinking. There are lots of alternatives to hygiene products. Instead of toothpaste, there are alternatives like chewing sticks, baking powder, charcoal, etc.
Non Governmental Organizations: NGOs have taken it upon themselves to provide access to hygiene to those who can't afford it by establishing bore holes , providing sanitary pads to secondary School girls among others.
Hygiene doesn't have to be centred money even though it does make it easier. Knowing how crucial hygiene is and finding alternatives to things we can't afford due to lack of money would actually create a healthy and high esteem society.
