Global Handwashing Day 2024: Why Clean Hands Still Matter

October 15 2024 is Global Handwashing Day and the perfect time to remember that something as simple as washing our hands with soap and clean water remains one of the most effective ways to prevent disease and save lives. 

This year the theme for Global Handwashing Day is Why Are Clean Hands Still Important?

The answer lies in the fact that clean hands continue to be our frontline defence against the spread of infections, illnesses and harmful germs. 

Whether in households, hospitals, schools, or workplaces, handwashing with soap and water plays a critical role in creating safer environments and better health outcomes.

Yet for billions around the world, basic handwashing facilities are still out of reach.

Almost two billion people in the world – one in four – lack either soap, water or both to wash their hands at home, if they have a place at all. 

This is more than just an inconvenience. It’s a public health crisis and a daily reality for billions that contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. 

In healthcare settings, the situation is equally alarming. According to a report by The World Health Organization and UNICEF, 43% of healthcare centres globally do not have handwashing facilities at points of care.

This means that in 1 in 4 facilities, healthcare workers can’t properly wash their hands before and after treating patients, which puts everyone at risk.

Healthcare facilities, especially those in low-resource settings, are some of the most critical places where hand hygiene is needed, but often neglected. 

The lack of functional sinks, clean water and soap not only makes handwashing difficult, but also leads to poor hygiene practices. 

However, handwashing in healthcare isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about behaviour. Even when handwashing facilities exist, healthcare workers don’t always wash their hands when they should. 

This gap between access and behaviour is a serious concern, as good hand hygiene is essential for ensuring the quality and safety of healthcare. 

At WaterAid, our work in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities is focused on supporting governments in creating environments where handwashing facilities are accessible and behaviour change is promoted. 

By advocating for clean hands at all points of care, we’re helping healthcare workers and patients alike feel protected, cared for and empowered.

One example of WaterAid’s work is our project focusing on improving WASH in healthcare facilities in Ntchisi, a rural district in central Malawi. There were four main healthcare centres in WaterAid’s project, which collectively served over 317,000 people. 

The health centres struggled to provide a safe, clean environment for patients and healthcare workers because their water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management systems were in poor condition. WaterAid focused on fixing the problem through:

• Building or repairing water, sanitation and waste systems.
• Training staff to properly manage these new systems and how to properly wash hands with soap and water and the most important times to do this.
• Promoting and teaching better hygiene and infection control practices for all staff at all four healthcare centres. 

By making these improvements, the project created a healthier environments and better health outcomes for the over 317,000 people in district.

Whether in our homes, communities, healthcare facilities, or workplaces, the simple act of washing hands with soap has the power to protect lives. 

At WaterAid, we are committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to the basic right of clean hands. Join us in advocating for better handwashing facilities and hygiene practices around the world. 

This Global Handwashing Day, let’s continue to raise awareness, share knowledge and push for change that leaves no one behind.