 A Note from Nurse Lillie:
Global Hand Washing Day Millions Celebrate
Help more children reach their 5th birthday!
For the fifth consecutive year, on October 15, 2012, hundreds of millions of people around the world will celebrate Global Hand washing Day aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the importance of hand washing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent disease. Over the past five years, Global Hand washing Day has grown from a one-day celebration in a few cities to a worldwide movement that has mobilized significant investment in and political support for hand washing with soap.
This year we have much to celebrate. In 2011, 600,000 fewer children under five died than in 2008, the first year Global Hand washing Day was celebrated. Hand washing with soap has an important role to play in child survival and health. One of the most cost-effective interventions, simply hand washing with soap can reduce the incidence of diarrhea among children under five by almost 50 percent, and respiratory infections by nearly 25 percent.
In 2012, Global Hand washing Day will share its fifth birthday with more than 121 million children who are also turning five this year. The organization behind Global Hand washing Day, the Global Public-Private Partnership for Hand washing (PPPHW), and its partners encourage everyone to join in our fifth birthday celebration and promote hand washing with soap.
Events will be held around the world to celebrate Global Hand washing Day including:
* Attempt to set a record for the most people washing their hands at the same time in Latin America. Target: 1 million people.
* Dirty Money; a microbiological investigation into the hygienic nature of currency in the UK.
* Local and regional celebrities from sports, music, and politics lend their support to Global Hand washing Day in countries around the world.
This year Global Hand washing Day will also be celebrated virtually on Twitter and Facebook. The special 2012 hash tag for Global Hand washing Day is #iwashmyhands. Twitter users are encouraged to Tweet this hash tag in the lead up to and on Global Hand washing Day to raise awareness of the importance of hand washing with soap.
On October 1st, the PPPHW will release a social media game available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Hindi: http://globalhandwashing.org/ghw. This fun, interactive game educates players about hygiene and sanitation and allows them to share messages through their Twitter and Facebook accounts. Help us trend on Twitter by playing the game on Global Hand washing Day, October 15.
For more information on how you can celebrate Global Hand washing Day's fifth anniversary, visit www.globalhandwashing.org or www.facebook.com/GlobalHandwashingDay.
Thank you,
Lillie Jones-Collins, RN, BSN, MSN-IH
| 
