Accra: Bathing twice a day is not just a 'women and girls' affair, according to Madam Maribel Akuorkor Okine, a Lay Counsellor and Gender Advocate. She emphasizes that personal hygiene is gender-neutral and crucial for mental health care. Bathing in the morning and evening should be a standard practice for everyone, as it helps regulate emotions and is basic self-care, regardless of gender.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Okine explained in an interview that sweat glands, skin bacteria, and dust do not discriminate by gender. "We all wake up sticky and come home dusty; bathing just made sense physically and psychologically," she stated. She also highlighted the psychological and emotional benefits of morning and evening baths, describing them as therapeutic practices that ground individuals and reduce anxiety.
She elaborated that a morning bath not only washes away the remnants of the night but also prepares the individual for the day ahead by promoting alertness and freshness. "It's a ritual that tells your brain the day has begun," Madam Okine noted. In contrast, an evening bath serves as a transition ritual that washes away the day's dirt, protects the skin, and helps individuals decompress and prepare for rest.
Madam Okine further explained the concept of "symbolic cleansing" in counseling, where water is used to wash away negative spirits or feelings experienced during sleep. She advocated that morning baths cleanse the spirit for a fresh start, while evening baths allow individuals to let go of the day's burdens, thus serving as a grounding technique for the body, mind, and spirit.
Beyond psychological benefits, Madam Okine pointed out that regular bathing reduces body odor, infections, and acne, thereby improving health and confidence. She emphasized that cleanliness reduces social anxiety and enhances personal presentation. "Body care is behavioral activation. It's discipline, not vanity. It says, 'I matter,'" she asserted.
Madam Okine encouraged the youth and the general public to view bathing as a form of therapy and a daily affirmation of self-worth: "I wash off every burden of the day. I rise fresh and focused."