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Global Handwashing Day is observed every year on October 15 to promote handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases. The campaign is led by the Global Handwashing Partnership and encourages people of all ages to make handwashing a daily habit, especially during key moments like before eating or after using the toilet.
Global Handwashing Day was introduced in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership to promote the life-saving habit of washing hands with soap. Celebrated every October 15, it originated during the International Year of Sanitation and is now backed by global bodies like WHO and UNICEF.
The initiative aims to drive behavioural change, especially among children, by highlighting how handwashing helps prevent diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections.
2008 Launch: Over 120 million children in 70 countries participated by washing their hands with soap.
Global Expansion: It has grown into a worldwide movement involving schools, governments, and health organizations.
Core Focus: Educating people about the power of soap and water in stopping germ transmission.
Impact: The campaign has helped promote a culture of hygiene, contributing significantly to infection prevention and public health improvement.
The 2025 theme, “Be a Handwashing Hero!”, urges people of all ages from children and parents to teachers and community leaders to take charge of hand hygiene. It promotes the idea that anyone can be a hero by simply washing hands with soap at key moments and encouraging others to do the same. The message reinforces that individual actions, not just those of healthcare workers, play a powerful role in preventing disease and protecting public health.
Prevents Diseases: Regular handwashing with soap significantly reduces the spread of diarrhoea, flu, respiratory infections and other communicable diseases.
Saves Lives at Low Cost: It is among the most economical public health measures.
Encourages Better Behavioural Habits: Campaigns like this make hygiene a lifestyle, not just a response to illness.
Supports Global Health Systems: Promotes better water and sanitation infrastructure in schools, hospitals and public spaces.
You can use these to spread awareness online or in schools, offices and community events:
“Clean hands save lives — be a handwashing hero today!”
“It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene.” — WHO 2025 Theme
“A few seconds of handwashing can prevent days of illness.”
“Soap and water are the cheapest life-saving tools — use them wisely.”
“Healthy hands, healthy future. Happy Global Handwashing Day!”
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