Global Handwashing Day
October 15, 2016
Global Handwashing Day is observed globally on October 15 every year. It is a campaign to motivate and increase awareness among the people around the world to make them understand the importance of handwashing with soap which is an easy, effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and lead a healthy life.
The day was founded by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing (PPPHW) in 2008. The date was appointed by the UN General Assembly. The first Global Handwashing Day was observed by over 120 million children around the world by washing their hands with soap in more than 70 countries.
The aims of Global Handwashing Day are to:
- Foster and support a general culture of handwashing with soap in all societies.
- Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country.
- Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.
Health benefits of handwashing with soap:
- Handwashing with soap is effective and the most inexpensive way to prevent diarrhea and acute respiratory infections (ARI).
- helps minimize the spread of influenza.
- avoiding respiratory infections.
The 2016 Global Handwashing Day theme is “Make Handwashing a Habit!”
Source: www.en.wikipedia.org / www.globalhandwashing.org
Image Credit: www.University of Western Cape / www.Rentokil / www.SlideShare
