RCN joins the commemoration of Global Handwashing Day 2025: “Every Clean Hand is a Symbol of Care”
By RCN Ghana · 16 October 2025
On October 15th, RCN Ghana joined the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), along with key partners from the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, to mark the 2025 Global Handwashing Day in Accra under the global theme “ Be a Handwashing Hero .” The event underscored the critical importance of hand hygiene in disease prevention, public health, and national development, calling for collective action to make handwashing a daily habit across all sectors of society.
Global Handwashing Day, celebrated annually on October 15, serves as a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. In Ghana, the commemoration aligns with national efforts to strengthen WASH services and promote hygiene behavior change as part of the broader public health strategy.
According to UNICEF and WHO, proper hand hygiene can reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 40% and respiratory infections by 23%, making it one of the simplest yet most powerful public health interventions.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for MLGCRA
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, emphasized the broader significance of handwashing, stating:
“ Handwashing is not merely a health intervention — it is a development investment, a social equaliser, and a moral obligation .”
He added passionately,
“ Every clean hand is a symbol of care, every wash is a shield against disease, and every handwashing hero is a builder of a healthy Ghana .”
The event brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, health institutions, and community leaders, all united in promoting the theme “ Be a Handwashing Hero .” Demonstrations and community engagement activities highlighted practical steps individuals and institutions can take to maintain h…
Global Handwashing Day, celebrated annually on October 15, serves as a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. In Ghana, the commemoration aligns with national efforts to strengthen WASH services and promote hygiene behavior change as part of the broader public health strategy.
According to UNICEF and WHO, proper hand hygiene can reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 40% and respiratory infections by 23%, making it one of the simplest yet most powerful public health interventions.
Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for MLGCRA
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, emphasized the broader significance of handwashing, stating:
“ Handwashing is not merely a health intervention — it is a development investment, a social equaliser, and a moral obligation .”
He added passionately,
“ Every clean hand is a symbol of care, every wash is a shield against disease, and every handwashing hero is a builder of a healthy Ghana .”
The event brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, health institutions, and community leaders, all united in promoting the theme “ Be a Handwashing Hero .” Demonstrations and community engagement activities highlighted practical steps individuals and institutions can take to maintain h…
