Global Handwashing Day Date in the current year: October 15, 2024

Global Handwashing Day was created in 2008 as an event of the World Water Week, held in Stockholm from August 17 to 23. The United Nations General Assembly appointed the date of the observance to October 15. Since 2008 the events related with handwashing are annually organized in many countries around the world.

Observation of Global Handwashing Day raises public awareness about importance of handwashing after using a toilet and before every meal. The theme of the very first observance of Global Handwashing Day focused on children and the fact that handwashing helps saving their lives in cases of death from diarrhea and pneumonia. Using soap after toilet cuts the number of deaths among children from diarrhea by half and from pneumonia by quarter. This simple measure is even more effective, that regular vaccination.

Global Handwashing Day events are organized in 70 countries, generally targeting the countries in Africa, Asia and South America.