Amsterdam, 15 October 2021 – Today is Global Handwashing Day. On this day the Global Handwashing Partnership raises awareness on the importance of hand hygiene. At IDA Foundation we underline the importance of practicing hand hygiene, to prevent sickness and the spread of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us again that hand washing is the most important and simple way to prevent sickness, especially before eating, after using the toilet, and before and after contact with other people.

According to research, handwashing can reduce diarrheal diseases with 30%, and acute respiratory infections such as SARS and COVID with 20%. Besides protecting against illness, handwashing also reduces the spread of antimicrobial resistance and may contribute to the reduction of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Find the factsheet with more data and references here.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in many countries around the world, we must ensure to keep the spotlight on hand hygiene, and make handwashing a priority to potentially save lives and prevent the spreading of infectious diseases.

Every year, the Global Handwashing Partnership publishes a report on handwashing data. Find the latest report here, for interesting insights and trends in 2020 during the corona pandemic.