Global Handwashing Day (GHD) 2025: “Be a Handwashing Hero!” Observed on October 15.

Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is observed annually on October 15 to promote the importance of washing hands with soap and water, a simple, cost-effective method to prevent infections. In 2025, the observance marks the 18th GHD, emphasizing hand hygiene as a life-saving action for both individuals and communities.

      - The theme for 2025 is “Be a Handwashing Hero!”, highlighting the critical role of consistent hand hygiene in preventing diseases and protecting community health.

      - GHD was launched by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) in August 2008 during the annual World Water Week (17–23 August 2008) in Stockholm, Sweden. The first-ever GHD was celebrated on 15th October 2008, establishing it as an annual global initiative to raise awareness about hand hygiene.

      - Apart from GHD, the World Health Organization (WHO) observes World Hand Hygiene Day annually on 5th May to promote the importance of handwashing as a key infection-prevention measure across healthcare settings.

Main Point :-   (i) GHP is an international coalition of public and private stakeholders that advocates for handwashing with soap. Its mission is to make hand hygiene accessible, affordable, and effective in improving public health, preventing infections, and reducing child mortality.

      (ii) Proper handwashing is critical because around 80% of infectious diseases are spread through dirty hands. Washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds significantly reduces the risk of illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and norovirus.

(iii) Surveys indicate that 62% of people know that 20 seconds of handwashing is sufficient, while 13% underestimate and 24% overestimate the required time; men are slightly more likely to underestimate.