World Handwashing Day is celebrated on October 15 every year to raise awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap as a way to prevent disease and save lives. Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs, including the germs that cause COVID-19, cholera, diarrhea and pneumonia.
On World Handwashing Day, people around the world come together to promote handwashing with soap and encourage others to make handwashing a habit. Events are held in schools, workplaces and communities to educate people about the importance of handwashing and to demonstrate how to wash hands properly. The United Nations mentions: “15. October is Global Handwashing Day, a global day of advocacy dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent disease and save lives.”
What is the history of Global Handwashing Day?
The first World Handwashing Day was celebrated on October 15, 2008. More than 120 million children washed their hands with soap on that day in 70 countries.
Since then, Global Handwashing Day has grown into one of the largest global health campaigns in the world.
World Handwashing Day is celebrated in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Events are held in schools, workplaces and communities to teach people about the importance of washing hands with soap and to show them how to wash their hands properly.
The Global Handwashing Partnership website mentions: “Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15. The first Global Handwashing Day was held in 2008, when more than 120 million children around the world washed their hands with soap in more than 70 countries.”
“Since 2008, community and national leaders have used Global Handwashing Day to spread the word about handwashing, build sinks and water faucets, and demonstrate the simplicity and value of clean hands.” is added.
What is the significance of World Handwashing Day?
World Handwashing Day is a reminder that we all have a role to play in preventing the spread of disease. By washing our hands regularly, we can help preserve the health of ourselves and our community.
Here are some concrete benefits of World Handwashing Day:
- Raises awareness of the importance of washing hands with soap as a way to prevent disease and save lives.
- Promotes hand washing as a habit.
- Teaches people how to wash their hands properly.
- It encourages people to make handwashing a priority in their lives and communities.
- It helps reduce the spread of disease.
- It saves lives.
What is the theme of World Handwashing Day 2023?
The theme of World Handwashing Day 2023 is “Clean hands are within reach”. This theme highlights the importance of making handwashing accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
The Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (GPHPP), which organizes Global Handwashing Day every year, chose this theme to highlight the fact that handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease and save lives, but it is not always available to everyone.
Is washing hands with soap really more beneficial than washing with water alone?
According to the Global Handwashing Organization, “A study in Bangladesh examined the effectiveness of handwashing with soap and water compared to handwashing with water alone. Research has shown that while using water alone helps reduce the risk of diarrhoea, using soap is significantly more effective.”
If people know they should wash their hands, won’t they do it automatically?
Experts learn what works and what doesn’t work in changing private, personal behaviors and habits. Top-down, technological solutions and health education campaigns do not work. More effective approaches are based on lessons from social marketing and respond to people’s motivations to wash their hands.
Do I really need to wash my hands for 20 seconds?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states: “Scientific studies show that you need to scrub for 20 seconds to remove harmful germs and chemicals from your hands. If you wash for less time, you won’t remove as much bacteria.”
Should I close the tap with a paper towel after washing my hands?
To save water, the CDC recommends turning off the faucet after wetting your hands and turning it back on after washing for 20 seconds to rinse off the soap. If you’re worried about getting germs on your hands after washing, use a paper towel, your elbow, or some other hands-free way to turn off the faucet.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education