October 15, 2008, is celebrated as the first-ever Global Handwashing Day. The day aims to highlight the need for proper hygiene practices across the world and raise awareness that hand washing with soap is a powerful public health intervention. The Global Hand Washing Day campaign is supported by a huge public and private coalition with UNICEF, USAID, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Water and Sanitation Program. Over 120 million children across South Asia; from Kabul to Karachi, Kathmandu to Kerela and Colombo to Dhaka will set a record of sorts by washing their hands at the same time, in the same way on Wednesday October 15, 2008.
