The importance of Global Hand Washing Day 2020

The importance of Global Hand Washing Day 2020

Global Hand Washing Day is an international hand washing promotional campaign that is marked on 15th October every year. The day is intended at motivating and mobilizing people all around the world to improve their hand washing habits. It puts emphasis on increasing awareness about the vital role washing hands with soap plays in preventing the spread of viruses and illnesses.

The day was first celebrated in the year 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) in order to promote a global and local vision of hand washing with soap. The three primary aims of celebrating global hand washing day are:

  • Fostering and supporting a general culture of hand washing with soap in all the societies.
  • Bringing the state of hand washing in each country into spotlight.
  • Raising awareness with regard to the benefits associated with hand washing with soap and water.
  • This year the respective day will be themed “Hand Hygiene for All” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is aimed at highlighting the vital role of hand washing with soap and water to prevent the spread of virus during these critical times. Experts from the pharma industry in India suggest that all the governments, businesses, institutions, and individuals should make hand washing a priority today for beating the virus and ensuring a better tomorrow.

    Why hand washing is important during this COVID-19 pandemic?

    The novel strain of coronavirus has created havoc all around the globe. It has leveraged people to get back to basics and take necessary precautions in order to stay safe from the deadly COVID-19 disease. As per the safety guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO), people should wash and clean their hands regularly and thoroughly using soap and water. This will kill the virus that may have caught your hands from infected surfaces or people.

    How to wash your hands properly?

    Hand washing can not only safeguard you from COVID-19 but also from various other bacterial and viral infections. However, it is important that you wash your hands properly irrespective of the time and place. Here is a 5-step guide furnished by Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to wash your hands the right way:

  • Wet your hands with clean water. Close the tap and apply soap.
  • Rub your hands together for creating lather from soap. Rub the lather between your fingers and under the nails.
  • Scrub for hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Rinse your hands with clean water.
  • Dry your hands with a towel or under an air dryer.
  • In case soap and water are not available, you should use an alcohol-based sanitizer for disinfecting your hands. However, various studies allegedly claim that sanitizers may not get rid of all types of germs. Thus, you should clean your hands with soap and water whenever possible.

    Disclaimer This blog solely intended for the educational/informational/awareness purposes and is not a substitute for any professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor/healthcare professional before acting on the information provided on the blog. Reliance on any or all information provided in the blog, is solely at your own risk and responsibility. Mankind Pharma Limited shall not be held liable, in any circumstance whatsoever.

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