hands4health is making clean hands possible
On October 15, the world comes together to celebrate Global Handwashing Day, a moment to recognize the life-saving power of hand hygiene. This simple act – washing hands with soap – remains one of the most effective measures to prevent disease transmission, including diarrheal and respiratory illnesses, which claim millions of lives each year.
However, in many parts of the world, access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities is limited, particularly in low-resource settings like rural schools and healthcare facilities. It is in these vulnerable communities where the hands4health project is making a vital difference.
Addressing Global Hygiene Gaps
According to the 2024 WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report, 49% of schools in low- and middle-income countries lack access to essential sanitation facilities, putting millions of students at risk of preventable diseases. This lack of access affects children’s health, attendance, and overall educational outcomes, as poor sanitation often forces children, especially girls, to stay home. Without adequate sanitation, schools cannot maintain a safe and hygienic environment, further exacerbating inequalities in education and health in vulnerable regions.
For healthcare settings, the WHO Global Progress Report on WASH in Health Care Facilities highlights that one-third of healthcare facilities lack the necessary resources to clean hands where care is provided. Additionally, one in four facilities do not have access to water services, and 10% lack sanitation services altogether, impacting 1.8 billion people who rely on these facilities. In the world’s 47 least developed countries, the situation is even more dire, with half of healthcare facilities lacking basic water services.
hands4health Holistic Approach
Since 2021, the hands4health project has been working to address these challenges by focusing on hand hygiene, water quality, and sanitation in primary healthcare facilities and schools. With initiatives running in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Palestine, the project provides innovative, low-cost solutions to improve WASH services, especially in off-grid and rural areas affected by conflict.
By partnering with NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector, hands4health has pioneered a systemic approach. This includes the use of the Gravit’eau system, a sustainable handwashing technology, and the development of behavior change strategies aimed at making handwashing a routine practice in schools and healthcare centers.
Transforming Lives in Vulnerable Communities
In Nigeria and Palestine, schools in conflict-affected areas have benefitted from new WASH facilities, helping to protect children from illness and allowing them to remain in school. In Burkina Faso and Mali, hands4health has trained local teams to maintain and monitor handwashing systems, ensuring that clean water and soap are always available.
By empowering local communities, hands4health is creating long-lasting change, transforming the health landscape in areas where access to WASH infrastructure has long been a challenge. The project’s multi-disciplinary approach also ensures that both infrastructure improvements and behavioral changes are addressed simultaneously, leading to more impactful and sustainable results.
Scaling Impact for a Healthier Future
As hands4health moves forward, the project is focusing on scaling these interventions to reach even more vulnerable communities. Through its data-driven approach, hands4health continues to assess health outcomes and refine its methods to ensure that hand hygiene solutions are both cost-effective and impactful.
This Global Handwashing Day, hands4health reaffirms its commitment to making handwashing accessible to all. With innovative solutions and strong partnerships, we are working towards a future where no child, patient, or health worker is left without the means to protect their health.