Handwashing has become an absolute necessity with the advent of Coronavirus. WHO asserts that Hand Hygiene is one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus.

“This year’s theme “Hand Hygiene for all” seeks to raise awareness of making soap and water available globally especially in public places schools and health care facilities. As of now a significant population of the world doesn’t have access to basic handwashing facility”, shared Honourable Dr. Harshvardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India . He shared that “handwashing can prevent almost one-third diarrheal illnesses and one-fifth of respiratory infection occurring in the community. Further Covid-19 pandemic has enhanced the critical role that hand hygiene plays in the prevention of transmission of the disease. It forms an important component of Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) for covid appropriate behaviour launched by the honourable Prime Minister.”

Sharing his message, Fr. Paul Moonjely, Executive Director of Caritas India said, “We strongly believe that community is the solution and handwashing has become the new normal. We know that it is bringing new behavioural change in the communities. Our country has reached back to the traditions of holistic health. We know how the trajectory of the health care system has evolved and with evolution, we forgot the values given to us and forgot about handwashing too. But now due to corona, we were forced to adapt it back.”

“It is important to bring cultural and behavioural change so that the change is internalized and popularized by every individual. Even water which is a key determinant of handwashing is not available to many. We should understand the reality of water poverty, we have a staggering issue of clean water in rural villages where there is a lot of water stress being experienced. We should also think of protecting and safeguarding providing water solutions as well to promote handwashing”, he added.

Talking about the crucial need hand washing in the current situation, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Co-Founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance said, “In Indian tradition and ancient culture, health and hygiene has always been a core essential component.” He shared that cleanliness is next to godliness. “All organisations, religions and people from different walk of life must come and work together to sensitize the communities on cleanliness,” he added.

The Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) organised a special webinar on October 15, 2020, to mark Global Hand Washing Day. Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at World Health Organisation shared about different modes of Covid-19 transmission and three C’s that needs to be avoided i.e. Crowded Places, Close Contact, and Closed indoor poorly ventilated spaces. “The fourth one which is most important is the hand hygiene and which WHO started popularizing and advocating right from the beginning and showing the correct way of hand washing,” she informed. Dr. Swaminathan said, “just showing awareness on handwashing is not adequate but we also have to look at the challenges that people face to bring the behavioural change. Many developers of free online games use similar techniques to involve the user in the process. For example, one of the leaders in the development of casual free Poki games, Friv5Online has long implemented this in their games. The need is to understand people’s belief and day-to-day challenges, speak with the communities and work with them and community-based organisations, NGO’s and religious groups to bring change.”  

“It is such a simple measure, yet it is so effective in preventing infection and spread of many diseases and now specially Covid-19”, said Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in India. “Wash your hand thoroughly with soap and water”, we are not talking about something hi-tech, but we are talking about which is already there. “Handwashing is not just a matter of individual choice, it’s a societal imperative, it has to become aspirational too”, shared Dr. Haque.

Secretary-General, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji shared that we know that hand washing is one of the simplest, least expensive, easiest, quickest tools to transform the health and hygiene of our world. “As we sit together waiting for the vaccine for covid and waiting for so many medical miracles which we already have with just water and soap which can prevent so many illnesses.”

The speakers from Ajmer Sharif, UN Volunteers, UNICEF, WHO, WSSCC, Veerayatan, Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Delhi Gurudwara Bangla Saheb also shared their messages during this special webinar.