Today, at the time of a pandemic, when the whole world is trying to find ways to avoid the havoc of the coronavirus, Google has remembered Hungarian physician Dr Ignaz Semmelweis by making a doodle.
His picture can be seen in the Google Doodle along with the handwashing technique and a play button below that. After clicking on the doodle, people can see a video that shows the right method of washing hands in six easy steps.
Who is Dr Ignaz Semmelweis?
Dr Ignaz Semmelweis was the first person to discover that washing hands has medical benefits. Before the 19th century even the doctors didn't use to wash their hands.
Semmelweis after completing his doctorate and masters went on to start his tenure at the Vienna General Hospital. He found out that a disease known as 'childbed fever' was spreading at a high rate. After a thorough investigation, he found out that the doctors were transmitting the disease from one body to another while conducting operations through their hands.
He then immediately told the medical staff to wash their hands before examining another person. However, many were skeptical.
After decades, his hygienic recommendations were validated by the widespread acceptance of the “germ theory of disease” and this is how he was widely remembered as the 'father of infection control'.
The tech giant Google is also taking initiatives in spreading awareness. It has shared five simple steps to follow to keep COVID-19 away.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)