By: Samuel Asamoah

World Vision Ghana has called on the government and relevant stakeholders to prioritise hand hygiene in national planning and budgeting, warning that gaps in access to water, soap and functional handwashing facilities could undermine efforts to prevent avoidable diseases.

The call coincides with the commemoration of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, with stakeholders urged to make handwashing with soap a consistent daily practice in households, schools, healthcare facilities and public spaces.

Yaw Atta Arhin, WASH Technical Specialist at World Vision Ghana, highlighted the importance of washing hands with soap and clean running water as an affordable and effective public health measure for reducing the spread of infectious diseases.

He stressed the need to ensure that handwashing facilities are accessible and functional, particularly in schools, healthcare facilities and other public places where people interact regularly.

World Vision Ghana also emphasised the importance of proper hygiene in protecting children from preventable illnesses, including diarrhoeal diseases, cholera, typhoid and respiratory infections.

The organisation noted that improved hygiene practices could contribute to children’s wellbeing and school attendance, making access to basic handwashing facilities an essential public health priority.

Calls for stronger government commitment

World Vision Ghana urged the government to strengthen investment in hand hygiene, implement the National Hand Hygiene Strategy and work with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Education Service and development partners to expand access to handwashing facilities.

It called for households, schools, healthcare facilities and public spaces to have access to clean water and functional facilities that make regular handwashing possible.

Healthcare facilities, schools, markets, lorry stations and places of worship were identified as priority locations where reliable handwashing infrastructure could help reduce the risk of disease transmission.

The organisation stressed that inadequate facilities in schools could undermine hygiene practices, while proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings remained important for preventing infections.

Sustaining handwashing behaviour

World Vision Ghana also called for stronger behaviour-change campaigns involving the media, traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, youth groups and community leaders.

The local theme for the 2026 celebration, “I Am a Handwashing Hero,” encourages individuals to take responsibility for promoting hygiene in their homes, workplaces and communities.

Global Handwashing Day is observed annually on October 15 to promote handwashing with soap as a simple and effective measure for preventing disease.

World Vision Ghana said achieving universal access to hand hygiene would require sustained behaviour change, stronger collaboration among stakeholders and increased investment in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure.

The organisation urged government and public institutions to translate awareness into practical action by ensuring that handwashing facilities are available, maintained and adequately supplied with water and soap.

It said access to clean hands remained essential to protecting children’s health and improving public health outcomes across Ghana.