The Global Handwashing Partnership launched this observance in 2008, coinciding with the International Year of Sanitation, to be marked annually on October 15. The inaugural celebration involved more than 120 million children across more than 70 countries, with a particular focus on schoolchildren. The day raises awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap at critical moments, such as before eating and after using the toilet, as one of the most cost-effective health interventions for preventing infectious diseases like diarrhea and respiratory infections, which remain leading causes of death among children under five in developing countries. Health ministries, schools, and NGOs worldwide hold educational and hands-on activities, including training workshops on proper handwashing technique and soap distribution campaigns in areas lacking access to clean water and sanitation facilities.