Today is the 6th year that countries across the world have marked “Global Handwashing Day” since the UN General Assembly decision to build on a hugely successful inaugural Global Handwashing Day in 2008. 

The annual Global Handwashing Day aims at increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases. This year Global Handwashing Day is observed under the slogan of “Clean hands save lives”.

Around the world, children, teachers, parents, celebrities, and government officials plan to mobilize and motivate millions to lather up in order to reduce life-threatening diseases, such as diarrhea and acute respiratory infections.

Children suffer disproportionately from diarrhea diseases – with more than 3.5 million children under five dying every year from diarrhea and pneumonia-related diseases. The simple act of washing hands with soap can reduce the incidence of diarrhea rates among children under five by almost 50 per cent, and respiratory infections by nearly 25 percent.

Under the slogan “Clean hands save lives”, the driving theme for Global Handwashing Day is children and schools. Children acting as agents of change, taking the good practices of hygiene learnt at school back into their homes and communities. The active participation and involvement of children, along with culturally sensitive community-based interventions aim at ensuring sustained behavioral change.

Global Handwashing Day has been observed in Mongolia since 2008 with a number of campaigns raising public awareness about washing hands with soap.