Global Handwashing Day 2020: All you need to know

Team Udayavani, Oct 15, 2020, 3:59 PM IST

Global Handwashing Day is annually marked on October 15. The day is for creating more awareness about the importance of washing hands with soap and water. It also aims to sensitise people about how hand washing is also an effective way to prevent diseases.

The first Global Handwashing Day was held in 2008, when over 120 million children around the world washed their hands with soap in more than 70 countries.

According to Global Health Observatory (GHO) data, in 2018, 5.3 million children died around the world before seeing their fifth birthday

The theme of Global Handwashing Day 2020 is ‘Hand Hygiene for All’. The theme is primarily to urge people across society to achieve universal hand hygiene. This year’s theme reminds everyone that one must work toward universal access and practice of handwashing with soap for now and for a healthy future.

India’s Ministry of Health took to Twitter in order to spread awareness of the day. The ministry, in its tweet, wrote, “Hands can carry virus. Let’s raise awareness about the importance of hand-hygiene and encourage our family and friends to follow frequent hand-washing as a precautionary measure to stay safe and healthy.”

Hands can carry virus. Let’s raise awareness about the importance of hand-hygiene and encourage our family and friends to follow frequent hand-washing as a precautionary measure to stay safe and healthy.

#SwasthaBharat #HealthForAll #GlobalHandwashingDay pic.twitter.com/Wa3MQNtei0

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) October 15, 2020