Introduction – Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15 across the world to spread awareness about the importance of handwashing regularly with soap or detergent as an inexpensive and effective way for avoiding infectious diseases. This international day provides an opportunity to promote and urge a large number of people to wash their hands with soap regularly worldwide.

The spreading of Covid-19 disease made us realize the importance of effective handwashing across the world. It is an international event that is dedicated for spreading awareness about the importance of handwashing with soap as the best way in the prevention of diseases which may be reduced by 25 to 50 percent. We should wash our hands after going to the toilet or before taking lunch or dinner which may lower the risk of viral or infectious diseases and maintain cleanliness.  The main aim of this international day is to spread awareness about the importance of hygiene.

History – Firstly, Global Handwashing Day was celebrated in the year 2008 that was founded by the handwashing partnership in Stockholm Sweden. In the same year, it was also observed as the global sanitation year. Later, the United Nations announced that Global Handwashing Day was observed every year on October 15 across the world. There are around 120 million children from different 70 countries who celebrated this day by washing their hands with water and soap during the first global handwashing day.

Theme – The theme of Global Handwashing Day in the year 2022 is “Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene” which calls to coordinate action toward handwashing with soap worldwide to lower the risk of infectious or viral diseases.

Significance – Global Handwashing Day is observed annually on October 15 to encourage the habit of handwashing across the world. As per a report, viruses and bacteria are responsible for 1 in 5 respiratory cases including cold or flu, and 1 in 3 diarrhea cases. If you wash regularly your hands then it may reduce the risk of diarrhea cases by 24 to 40 percent, gastrointestinal diseases in children by 29 to 57 percent, and respiratory diseases by 16 to 20 percent. So, we should wash our hands after sneezing or coughing, during cooking food, after using the toilet, and before having a meal.