Global Handwashing Day 2016

HYDERABAD: As we observe Global Handwashing Day on October 15, we know that handwashing with soap  is a powerful diarrhea prevention tool. Handwashing with soap could reduce the risk of diarrhea by nearly 30  to 50 percent. For handwashing to be effective it must be practiced consistently at key times, such as after  using the toilet or

before contact with food. Handwashing, even with soap, will have little or no impact in  such a situation! The 2016 Global Handwashing Day theme is “Make Handwashing a Habit!” While habits must  e developed over time, this theme emphasises the importance of handwashing as a ritual behavior for  longterm sustainability. For India, we should be reading this as “Make Handwashing— With Soap and Clean  Water—a Habit!”