If The Room Smells Like Your Armpits, We Have a Problem!

Namibia has entered that familiar season when the sun appears to take its personal frustrations out on us. The temperature rises, shirts become optional in some places, deodorant suddenly becomes a luxury item and some fellow men begin walking around as though bathing is a constitutional right that can be exercised only when convenient. Gentlemen, this is not a personality trait. It is hygiene. There is nothing wrong with sweating. In Namibia, particularly during the hotter months, sweating is practically part of the uniform. The problem begins when sweat, dirt and several days of questionable decision-making combine to produce an odour powerful enough to announce your arrival before you enter the room. And no, spraying half a bottle of perfume over an unwashed body does not solve the problem. It simply creates a more complicated chemical situation.

Good personal hygiene should not be treated as something men suddenly remember when they have a date, a job interview or an important function. It should be part of everyday life. A proper bath or shower, clean clothes, deodorant, washed hair, clean feet, trimmed nails and fresh breath are basic requirements. They are not signs that a man is weak. They are signs that he understands that other human beings have noses. The hot season makes this even more important. Namibia’s heat means sweat accumulates quickly, particularly around the armpits, groin, feet and other areas where moisture tends to remain. If you are spending the day walking around, working outdoors, travelling in crowded taxis or sitting in an office without adequate ventilation, personal hygiene becomes even more important. And please, gentlemen, wash your clothes. Wearing the same shirt three days in a row because “it still looks clean” is not the scientific…