Many common illnesses can be prevented by increasing the practice of hand washing.  To promote better health and hygiene, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health and the international community led celebrations of Global Hand Washing Day across the country on October 15.  USAID’s Afghan Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (SWSS) project and the Afghan Government supported the day in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, and Takhar provinces by providing soap and water at community events.

Based on annual statistics, diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections are responsible for the deaths of more than 67,500 children under the age of five in Afghanistan.  One of SWSS’s key objectives is to promote improved hygiene practices and reduce diarrheal diseases within communities.  To achieve this, SWSS works with communities to improve key hygiene behaviors such as hand washing with soap, safe water transport and storage, and the use of improved pit latrines.

This year’s theme of Global Hand Washing Day, “more than just a day,” aimed to establish hand washing with soap as a life-long and life-saving habit.  In a gathering of thousands in Badakhshan province, the Provincial Public Health Director Abdul Mobin Jalali said, “The celebration of hand washing in schools is of great importance.  Through this gathering, approximately 4,000 students and families are receiving important hygiene messages.”  He then asked the attendees to make hand washing with soap a regular habit.  While washing his hands, student participant Abdul Wakil agreed, saying, “Washing our hands with water and soap can reduce disease and the cost of soap is less than 10 Afghanis ($0.20).”