Global Handwashing Day is celebrated annually on October 15th to promote handwashing with soap as an effective way to reduce illness and child mortality. It was initiated in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership to reduce respiratory and diarrheal diseases through simple behavioral changes like handwashing. The campaign aims to foster a culture of regular handwashing with soap worldwide. Proper handwashing can reduce respiratory disease mortality by 25% and diarrheal disease mortality by 50%.

1. GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY
– 15th October

2. History
• Global Handwashing Day was initiated by the Global Handwashing
Partnership (GHP) in August 2008 at the annual World Water Week in
Stockholm, Sweden.
• The founding bodies in 2008 included: FHI360 (a non-profit human
development organization based in the US), US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Procter & Gamble, UNICEF, Unilever, World Bank
Water & Sanitation Program, and the United States Agency for
International Development.

3. Purpose and Aim
• The campaign was initiated to reduce childhood mortality rates and
related respiratory and diarrheal diseases by introducing
simple behavioural changes, such as handwashing with soap. This simple
action can reduce the mortality rate of respiratory disease by 25%. Death
from diarrheal diseases can be reduced by 50%. Across the world, more
than 60 percent of health workers do not adhere to proper hand hygiene.
• The stated aims of Global Handwashing Day are to foster and support a
general culture of handwashing with soap in all societies.

4. Handwashing: An effective tool to
prevent COVID-19
• Handwashing has always been one of most effective ways of keeping diseases at bay. It is a
simple act that pays in dividends when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy and safe.
Handwashing is also one of the key cornerstones of COVID-19 prevention. Now more than ever
as we embrace the new normal and live with COVID-19, hand hygiene needs to become an
integral part of our daily routine and our lives, as we live through this pandemic, and beyond,
to protect us from diseases.
• With COVID-19 transmission mainly spreading between people through direct, indirect
(through contaminated objects or surfaces), or close contact with infected people via mouth
and nose secretions, washing hands with soap and running water is of critical importance. To
stop the spread of COVID-19, along with other COVID appropriate behaviors, the practice of
handwashing at regular intervals is a must, after coughing or sneezing, when caring for the sick,
after using the toilet, before eating, while preparing food and after handling animals or animal
waste. Handwashing after touching common surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, or after
one comes back home from visiting a public place will keep ourselves and others around us
safe.
• Hand hygiene, a very simple action, is well accepted to be one of the primary modes of
reducing health care-associated infection and of enhancing patient safety. The pandemic is still
among us and it is far from over. We must remind ourselves of the basics that we as individuals
can do to keep ourselves safe. To beat the virus today and ensure better health outcomes
beyond the pandemic, handwashing with soap must be a priority now and in the future.

5. Importance of Hand Hygiene
Reduces Risk in Medical
Lowers Risk of Diarrhea and Intestinal Problems
Prevents Eye Infections
Lowers Respiratory Infection Risk

6. Why is it important to follow hand
hygiene habits?
• Hand washing is an important technique in removing or reducing the
number of microorganisms from the hands. This in turn will reduce the
potential transmission of these microorganisms directly to others or to
surfaces where they can be picked up by others. Washing of ones hands
will also decrease the risk of transmission of infectious agents to self. Hand
washing is especially important among healthcare workers. In this instance
it can help prevent common illnesses such as the flu and help them stay
healthier.
• Some of the most common diseases that can be spread through hand to
hand contact are infectious diarrhea, the flu, the common cold and also
some intestinal disorders. This can affect people who are more vulnerable
to infectious diseases such as those with reduced defenses including the
elderly or even very young children.

7. Hand Sanitizer
• Hand sanitizer (also known as hand antiseptic) is a liquid, gel or foam
generally used to kill many viruses/bacteria/microorganisms on the hands. In
most settings, hand washing with soap and water is generally
preferred. Hand sanitizer is less effective at killing certain kinds of germs,
such as norovirus and Clostridium difficile, and unlike hand washing, it cannot
physically remove harmful chemicals.
• In most healthcare settings, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are preferable to
hand washing with soap and water, because it may be better tolerated and is
more effective at reducing bacteria. Hand washing with soap and water,
however, should be carried out if contamination can be seen, or following
the use of the toilet. The general use of non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers is
not recommended.
• Consumer alcohol-based hand sanitizers exist in liquid, foam, and easy-
flowing gel formulations. Products with 60% to 95% alcohol by volume are
effective antiseptics. Lower or higher concentrations are less effective; most
products contain between 60% and 80% alcohol.

8. HAND SANITIZER Vs
 Use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer that contains at least 60
percent alcohol. Supervise young
children to prevent swallowing.
Apply the sanitizer, putting
enough on your hands to cover
all surfaces. Rub your hands
together until they feel dry. This
should take about 20 seconds.
 Use it before and after visiting
someone in a hospital or nursing
home.
 Hand sanitizers are easy to carry.
 Wet your hands with clean
running water and apply soap.
Create a lather by rubbing your
hands together. Scrub all
surfaces of your hands for 20
seconds. Rinse your hands under
clean running water.
 Use it before, during and after
preparing food, before and after
caring for someone who is sick,
before and after treating a cut or
wound.
 It is difficult to carry hand wash
while travelling.
HAND WASH

9. Steps in Hand Washing
 Wet your hands with clean water.
 Lather your hands with soap & rub properly.
 Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
 Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
 Dry your hands.

10. RUB HANDS FOR HAND HYGIENE! WASH HANDS WHEN VISIBLY SOILED
Duration of the entire procedure: 20-30 seconds1a 1b 2
Apply a palmful of the product in a cupped hand,
covering all surfaces
Right palm over left dorsum
with interlaced fingers and
vice versa
Backs of fingers to opposing
palms with fingers interlocked
Rotational rubbing, backwards
and forwards with clasped
fingers of right hand in left
palm and vice versa
Rotational rubbing of
left thumb clasped in
right palm and vice versa
Once dry,
your hands are safe
Rub hands palm to palm
Palm to palm with
fingers interlaced

11. Our Future is our hands – Let's Move
Forward Together