Global Handwashing Day celebration in Savannakhet province

Every October 15, people around the world join together to celebrate Global Handwashing Day in order to raise awareness about the importance of the preventative measure of washing hands with soap at critical times, and to remind the public of proper handwashing techniques. This year, the three districts in Savannakhet province under SNV’s Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All programme celebrated Global Handwashing Day in combination with other National Days without any external support.

In Xonnabouli district, the local government organised a ‘Walk for a Day’ campaign in the early morning to celebrate National Elderly Day and Global Handwashing Day together. Over 200 people came to walk together, carrying banners with messaging about these two events. After the community walk, students from the first Open-Defecation Free village in the district, demonstrated seven steps of a proper handwashing with soap technique for the gathered crowd, and performed a creative handwashing dance.

Meanwhile, in Atsaphon and Phin districts, the local governments collaborated to organise a celebration of Global Handwashing Day and National Teacher’s Day together at schools. Over 100 people per district participated in this event. Students gave traditional Lao arts performances, demonstrated proper handwashing with soap techniques, and engaged in a fun hygiene quiz game.

These two locally-initiated events demonstrated the important progress made through SNV’s intervention over the past 5 years through the SSH4A programme.