International Handwashing Day

According to the World Bank, hygiene promotion is the most cost-effective health action to reduce disease. As of 2020, 2.3 billion people lacked basic hygiene services (handwashing facility with soap and water), and 1.6 billion people had access to handwashing facilities that lacked water or soap. Research shows that washing hands with soap and water could reduce deaths from diarrheal disease by up to 50%. Handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16–21%. About 7% of women and 15% of men do not wash their hands at all after using the bathroom. Approximately 39% of people don’t wash their hands after sneezing, coughing or after blowing their nose.

Keeping your hands germ-free is your first line of defense against getting sick from, and spreading, harmful germs and bacteria.