KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) — 15 October 2019 is the day we celebrate Global Handwashing Day (GHD) worldwide together. This is an initiative started by the Global Handwashing Partnership in 2008 to help world leaders advocate the importance of proper handwashing to their respective local communities. With the first GHD held in 2008, over 120 million children in more than 70 countries have better access to hand washing facilities which allow them to wash their hands properly.
This year Global Handwashing Day’s theme is “Clean Hands for All”, making the push to leave no one behind in Sustainable Development Agenda. Besides children, handwashing practice applies to adults as well, especially in their daily routines at home to workplace. Research from WHO shows that 40% of the world’s population has no access to basic handwashing facilities. Inadequacy in handwashing facilities can easily put individuals at higher risk of contracting diseases that may impact their health, education, and economic outcomes.