Global Handwashing Day October 15th

Global Handwashing Day 2010 will focus around schools and children. Encouraging communities to plan activities surrounfing playgrounds, classrooms, community centers and public areas.

Global Handwashing Day will involve millions of people in more than 80 countries across all five continents to wash their hands with soap.

Of the approximately 120 million children born in the developing world each year, half will live in households without access to improved sanitation. Poor hygiene and lack of access to sanitation together contribute to about 88% of deaths from diarrheal diseases.

The goal is to make handwashing with soap an automatic behavior.  This one act can save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention, cutting deaths from diarrhea by almost half and deaths from acute respiratory infections by one-quarter.

The main objectives of this global celebration are:
• Foster and support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.

The Global Handwashing Day's theme video with
instructions for children on how to wash their hands properly.

It’s In Your Hands