14/10/2026
Today is Global Handwashing Day!
Here are a few numbers worth remembering.
Washing with soap:
Cuts the risk of diarrhoeal illness by over 40%
Lowers the risk of colds by about 16%
But only if the soap is there:
Among people who skip washing, most blame missing soap or paper towels
It’s the top reason high school students don’t wash at school, even though 97% say handwashing matters for their health.
Empty or jammed dispensers rank among people’s biggest washroom frustrations.
Most people want to wash their hands. A well-stocked washroom takes away the excuse. Full soap dispensers, plenty of paper towels and clean, working sinks make the right thing the easy thing.
Wet, soap, scrub for 20 seconds, rinse, dry with a paper towel. That’s it!
To help get the message up on the walls, we’ve made free posters and short videos in te reo Māori and English. Put them in washrooms, staffrooms, classrooms, anywhere people stop to wash.
Horoia ō ringaringa. Wash your hands.
Download them here: https://lnkd.in/eHsTEUt9