Celebrating Global Handwashing Day 2020!

Ae Bunty, tera sabun slow hai kya? This popular phrase reminds us of the importance of handwashing especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We touch a thousand things throughout the day and our hands can easily get infected by bacterias, viruses and other hazardous microorganisms which can actually lead to fatal diseases. Now, do you understand why your parents and teachers are constantly stressing on washing hands before eating? Handwashing has certainly proved to be a blessing in fighting the current global pandemic. On this Handwashing Day, we are here to guide you how washing hands can impact our lives for good.

Global Handwashing Day 2020: Theme

Handwashing has never been more important than today. As we celebrate the 12th Global Handwashing Day alongside fighting a pandemic, the theme for this year has been chosen as ‘Hand Hygiene for All‘. This year’s theme calls upon society to come together and celebrate washing hands, especially with soap. It also awakens the society how hand washing is for a safe and healthy future.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us that even the complex problems can be solved by one of the simplest activities like handwashing with soap. On the occasion of Handsashing Day 2020, UN-Water by United Nations (UN) has laid down some points elucidating the impact of handwashing in breaking the transmission of diseases-

• Handwashing can reduce acute respiratory infections by 20%.
• Handwash can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by 30% to 48.
• Hand washing plays an important role in reducing the transmission of outbreak-related pathogens like Cholera, Ebola, SARS, Shigellosis and Hepatitis E.
• Hand hygiene may contribute to the reduction of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
• Hand hygiene is protective against healthcare-associated infections and reduces the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Here’s How to Wash Hands According to WHO!

History of Handwashing Day

The Global Handwashing Day is celebrated on October 15th every year,. It was founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership which aims to utilise the event as an opportunity to test, replicate and design unique ways to encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap during critical times.

In 2008, more than 120 million children from 70 countries across the globe washed their hands with soap and it was announced as the first Global Handwashing Day. Since that year, the day has been judicially utilised in creating awareness about handwashing along with building taps and sinks to make hand washing more feasible for everyone. Going to the importance of washing hands, the Global Handwashing Day is celebrated with great pomp and show at academic institutions, private and public organisations as well as NGOs.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, we have realised how handwashing can prevent us from a fatal disease. Thus, this Handwashing Day, we all shall pledge to inculcate and promote the use of this practice.

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