Water Mission Celebrates Global Handwashing Day
An estimated 829,000 people in low-and middle-income countries die every year because of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. That’s 2,271 people dying every day.
Each year, we observe Global Handwashing Day on October 15 to highlight the importance of handwashing with safe, clean water and soap for maintaining good health and well-being.
Water Mission is dedicated not only to providing access to safe, clean water in Africa, Latin America, and East Asia, but also to ensuring that community members are sufficiently trained on hygiene practices. Staff in our eight country programs expertly train local volunteers as WASH Promoters, equipping them with resources and empowering them to teach their neighbors where germs originate and how to prevent their spread.
23%-40%
Handwashing education can reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23%-40%.
(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Pili built a handwashing station at her home in Makere, Tanzania, after learning about good hygiene practices through WASH promotion training.
In Turkana, Kenya, Water Mission staff participate in the region’s annual Global Handwashing Day celebration. Last year, we partnered with the local government, schools, and other nonprofit organizations to host a public event for promoting proper handwashing.
The event objectives were raising awareness on the importance of handwashing with soap for disease prevention, promoting behavior change around hygiene practices in communities, [and] engaging stakeholders in promoting hand hygiene.
Water Mission equips WASH Promoters with handwashing posters and other resources to educate community members on best handwashing practices.
During the event, local primary school children demonstrated handwashing techniques, and local leaders gave speeches and presentations. Exhibitions displayed various handwashing facilities and soap.
The team in Turkana plans to participate in the event again this year, sharing the work that Water Mission is doing in Kenyan communities to help people achieve optimal health.
For Water Mission, this is an opportunity to showcase what we have done in the WASH space pertaining to handwashing.
Matere explained that in Kenya, as in many East African countries, good hygiene practices are essential for holistic well-being in rural communities. In addition to reducing food contamination, the transmission of illnesses, and mortality rates, washing hands with safe water and soap can:
- Improve school attendance among children,
- Save money that was previously used on medical expenses for water-related illnesses,
- Enhance income as people miss less work due to water-related illnesses,
- Restore dignity, especially for women and girls, and
- Protect vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.
29%-57%
Handwashing education can reduce the number of school days children miss by 29%-57%.
(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Students at Comboni Girls Boarding School in the Turkana region of Kenya enjoy easily accessible safe water and handwashing facilities every day.
Water Mission is proud to partner with communities to advance health and hygiene. This Global Handwashing Day, join us in helping men, women, and children around the world experience health, safety, and peace through dignified hygiene practices.
Related Impact Stories
