BE A HANDWASHING HERO! GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY 2026

Observed each year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day is an important opportunity to remind people around the world that one of the simplest actions we can take to protect our health is also one of the most effective: washing our hands.  

Our hands come into contact with countless surfaces, objects, and people throughout the day. In the process, they can pick up microorganisms that may cause illness. These microorganisms can then be transferred to other people, surfaces, food, or our own eyes, nose, and mouth. Proper hand hygiene, such as handwashing and hand disinfection, helps interrupt this process by removing microorganisms from hands and reducing the opportunity for them to be transferred. 

For this reason, hand hygiene is an essential component of infection prevention and control (IPC). By breaking this link in the chain of infection, effective hand hygiene can help reduce the transmission of many communicable diseases and contribute to safer environments both in the community and in healthcare settings.  

Hand hygiene is particularly vital in healthcare facilities to prevent the spread of microorganisms between patients, healthcare workers, equipment, and surfaces. Following the 5 moments for Hand Hygiene correctly and consistently is key to reducing the risk of infection and maintaining a safe healthcare environment. 

My five moments for Hand Hygiene in Health Care

Knowing that handwashing is important is only part of the solution. People also need the means to practice good hand hygiene. Access to clean water, soap, functional handwashing facilities, and clear information about hand hygiene is essential. When these resources are readily available, hand hygiene becomes easier to practice consistently and can become part of everyday life. 

Creating those environments where hand hygiene is accessible, practical, and encouraged is therefore a shared responsibility. At SARAYA, to promote proper handwashing practices, in 2010, we launched the “Wash A Million Hands! Project” (the page in Japanese) in collaboration with UNICEF Japan.  Through this project, SARAYA donates 1% of sales from selected hygiene products to fund sanitation and hygiene education in Uganda. In addition, we locally produce an alcohol-based handrub to strengthen IPC measures in the region and improve hospital hygiene. The initiative seeks to support regional clinics and hospitals by offering affordable disinfectants, while also contributing to local job creation. 

 "Wash A Million Hands! Project"

Global Handwashing Day reminds us that preventing infection does not always require complicated solutions. Sometimes, meaningful change begins with a simple action that we repeat every day. Clean hands are a simple action with a powerful impact. By making hand hygiene a shared habit, we can help prevent infections, protect one another, and build healthier communities. 

For more information, please visit the Global Handwashing Day page here.