Handwashing: Why Have An Entire Day Dedicated To It?

It goes without saying that we need to wash our hands every day. Before eating, before cooking, before putting on makeup or right after finishing work – it’s indisputable how it’s second nature to wash up before or after attempting anything. So, why commit an entire occasion to something that’s just common hygiene practice? 

Because, more likely than not, some of us aren’t doing even that bare minimum. Or we aren’t doing it properly, with soap and clean water. Strange considering how hand washing is our first line of defence against life-threatening illnesses. 

That’s right; hand washing saves lives. And there is always a method to the madness, especially in the past year where the world came under the blight of a pandemic.

What is Global Handwashing Day, and is it essential to promote good hygiene among communities?

Global Hand Washing Day, celebrated every 15th October since 2008, is a campaign invested in spreading awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as the most potent and cost-effective prevention against illnesses. 

And the movement isn’t just there to tell you to wash your hands. It’s there to guide you on why it’s necessary and how to do it better so that each community around the world is safe from spreading illnesses as simple as the common cold to more severe infections, such as meningitis, hepatitis A, many types of diarrhoea and, yes, even COVID-19.

 What is this year’s theme?

“Our future is at hand – let’s move forward together” is the theme decided by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) for 2021. It is a call for society to work together towards universal access to clean water and soap to the practice of hand hygiene. 

You can celebrate Global Handwashing Day by emphasising the importance of hygiene and cleaning hands in their role in fighting against germ-borne diseases.

When should we wash our hands?

We need to make regular hand washing a habit to stop germs from spreading. Healthline reports it’s especially vital to wash hands:

• before eating and cooking
• after using the restroom
• after house cleaning 
• before contact lens changing
• after a burn or wound
• after interacting with animals like pets, strays etc.
• before and after visiting/caring for any sick acquaintances
• after sneezing or coughing
• after finishing outside activities like playing in the park or gardening.

What is the correct way to wash hands? 

To combat disease spread and ensure the most sterility, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise washing hands with soap (regular or antibacterial, either work) and water for at least 20 seconds, as the following explains:

1. Rinse your hands under running water.
2. Apply whatever soap you prefer, antibacterial or moisturising or even regular old bar soap will do.
3. Lather up for 20 seconds or longer.
4. Rinse thoroughly and dry your hands.
5. If using a public restroom, try using a paper towel, turn off the water tap and close the door while exiting, so you stay hygienic!

We must teach our children, and those in more impoverished circles, the values of good hygiene to promote community health. Fostering a culture of handwashing with soap in our society leads to curbing disease spread and enable those around us to make healthier choices.

According to Concern Universal, over 200 million people celebrate Global Handwashing Day each year.