Global handwashing day 2018 is celebrated on the 15th of October, every month to mark the importance of handwashing. Handwashing may seem a normal day to day activity that doesn't need enough mention and is a personal choice. Handwashing is way more important subject to discuss that what you think. You won't believe this but according to a review conducted in 2017 analysed the handwashing behaviour in Multiple 'Indicator Cluster Surveys and Demographic & Health Surveys' from 51 countries between 2010 and 2013, found that 'the differences in soap availability were small or nonexistent in the countries, signifying that the availability of soap is almost universal'. However, if you are thinking that the households do not have access to soap are poor enough to not purchase soaps, you couldn't be more wrong. While there is a percentage of people who cannot, most people who can afford multi-use soap bars or any other option like detergent to make soapy water at least they rather use it for bathing, dishwashing or laundry, rather than handwashing. Therefore it can be concluded the cost isn't the primary barrier for people from poorer countries. Good Habits of People Who Have Great Teeth. 

The Theme and Significance for World Handwashing Day

“Clean hands – a recipe for health,” is the Global Handwashing Day theme for the year 2018. Like the theme speaks for itself, it aims at spreading awareness about the importance of clean hands. People generally underestimate the importance of handwashing in terms of health. The directly implicates how handwashing is linked to food, nutrition, and hygiene. It also emphasises on how handwashing before cooking, feeding others, or eating is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and can help keep various diseases like diarrhoea at bay. Apart from helping prevent diseases it also helps children become stronger. The aim is to make handwashing a part of every meal.

Here's What You Can Do

A lot of the cause can be helped if we as an individual contribute to it. A change in your lifestyle can work as an example for others and also help improve your life. You can also help encourage other underprivileged people or simply ignorant people to change their habit as well. Here are a few things you can do.

  1. Design a practical and simple handwashing behaviour, and try to spread awareness, remind or help others to wash their hands before eating at least.

  2. Bring in a habit of washing your hands with soap at critical times like before eating, cooking, or feeding others.

  3. Make handwashing part of your family meals, like a small three-step routine that may include wash-eat-wash, especially among children.

  4. Set dedicated places to wash your hands with a fun sign-board in the household, schools, community, workplaces, and health facilities.

  5. Develop efficient handwashing habits change in research,

    policy, programs, and advocacy.

Founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership, the day "is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times," as per globalhandwashing.org. Let's work together towards it together.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 11:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).