Global Handwashing Day 2022: Unite for universal hand hygiene

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the importance of hand washing even though the focus was given on maintaining proper hand hygiene since long.

The Global Handwashing Day is celebrated every year on October 15. The first Global Handwashing Day was held in 2008. Over 120 million children around the world washed their hands with soap in more than 70 countries.

Theme For The Global Handwashing Day 2022

The Theme for Global Handwashing Day 2022 is ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’.

Initiative At School Level

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked its affiliated schools to organise special events to mark the occasion. The Ministry of Education has decided to observe Global Handwashing Day today with theme ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’ to highlight the significance of hand washing with soap, which is critical for prevention of transmission of Covid-19.

“As we move beyond the pandemic and into a new normal, it is crucial that we maintain the momentum and move forward together universal hand hygiene,” CBSE said in its notice.

As students are the future of our nation, CBSE will be conducting school level activities and competitions like painting, quiz, essay writing, seminars/ webinars to encourage students towards maintaining proper hand hygiene.

Importance of Handwashing

Apart from Covid-19, proper hand hygiene will also prevent a number of other diseases including diarrhoea and illnesses like cold.

"Hand hygiene is one of the most important aspects of leading a healthy lifestyle. On Global Handwashing Day, let's encourage handwashing with soap to limit spread of viruses to avoid diseases, and actively work towards achieving universal hand hygiene through collective efforts," tweeted Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.