The significance of hand washing is a lesson that has been passed down to us since childhood. Hand washing is a simple yet effective way to prevent common illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory infections.

However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, proper hand washing has become even more critical than ever before. It is time to mark the 15th of October as International Hand Washing Day to emphasize the importance of hand hygiene.

The Significance of Hand Washing

Hand hygiene is the most crucial aspect of preventing the spread of infections, whether it is a common cold or a severe virus like COVID-19. The human hand is a perfect breeding place for bacteria, viruses, and germs.

Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching our face or mouth allows germs to enter our system. The leading cause of respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders is not washing hands properly.

World Health Organization (WHO) has specified the five critical moments during which hand washing is essential:.

1. Before eating or handling food
2. Before and after caring for a sick person
3. Before and after treating a wound
4. After using the toilet or changing the diaper
5. After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

By following these steps rigorously, we can minimize the spread of diseases and maintain good personal hygiene.

The Impact of COVID-19

The year 2020 has been a catastrophic year for humanity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has killed countless people worldwide, and its spread is yet to be contained.

Given the contagious nature of this virus, maintaining proper hygiene has never been more imperative.

Critical preventive steps include maintaining social distance, wearing masks, and avoiding touching surfaces. However, hand washing remains the most effective way to prevent the virus’ transmission.

Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds is the most effective process to sanitize hands.

Proper hand hygiene is imperative for everyone, both in and outside of healthcare settings, to slow the spread of the virus and save millions of lives globally. It is also crucial to improve overall hygiene habits to prevent future disease outbreaks.

Celebrating International Hand Washing Day

The 15th of October is marked as International Hand Washing Day globally. The day serves as a reminder to people worldwide about the significance of hand hygiene.

Related Article Global Hand Washing Day

The day’s objective is to promote and support a culture of hand washing, with soap at critical times throughout the day.

The day’s celebrations are aimed at educating individuals worldwide about the importance of hand washing and encouraging them to make handwashing a habit.

Schools, health facilities, and community centers organize hand washing campaigns, and people come together to promote awareness about proper hand washing. Various slogans such as “Clean Hands Save Lives,” “Washing Hands Prevents Diseases,” and “Keeping Your Hands Clean Saves Lives” can be seen during the celebrations.

The Importance of Handwashing Campaigns

Handwashing campaigns is an excellent way to promote awareness about hand hygiene. Effective campaigns can help people to understand the significance of proper hand hygiene.

The campaigns can be targeted to communities and can educate people about proper hand washing techniques, common hand washing myths, and the importance of hand sanitizer.

The campaigns can also be targeted to schools where young students can learn about the importance of hand hygiene from an early age.

The promotion of hand washing can also be part of the curriculum to make hand washing a habit among school-aged children.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facilities (WASH)

The WHO has estimated that over two billion people lack access to safe drinking water, decent sanitation, and proper hygiene. These conditions result in the spread of various water-borne diseases that can lead to severe illness and death.

WASH programs provide reliable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities to people in need all around the world. By investing in these facilities, communities can fight off diseases, improve health and save lives.

There is a need for policymakers and community leaders to invest in WASH facilities to support hand washing initiatives. The availability of clean water and sanitation is essential to promote proper hand hygiene in communities.

The Bottom Line

Hand washing is an essential aspect of every person’s hygiene routine. Proper hand washing can help prevent the spread of infections, including the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Celebrating International Hand Washing Day every year serves as a reminder for us all to practice proper hand hygiene measures. By promoting hand washing campaigns and investing in WASH facilities, we can make hand washing a habit worldwide, keeping germs at bay, and help in preventing the spread of infections.