Celebrated each year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day is a global advocacy day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting proper handwashing as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

The Global Handwashing Day 2023 is themed “Clean Hands are Within Reach”. The campaign reminds us that through strong leadership and collective efforts, we can close gaps in access and practice to achieve hand hygiene for all-Everyone has a role to play to ensure clean hands are within reach.

In commemorating the 2023 event, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), a not-for-profit organization with support from the ONE foundation and in partnership with CWSA in the Ashanti region held a durbar at Donaso, a small town in the Ejisu Municipality to promote handwashing through stakeholder messages and handwashing demonstrations.

Speaking at the event in the Ashanti region, the WSUP Ghana M&E and Technical Lead Mr Anthony Addae reiterated that handwashing is a simple and affordable way to prevent disease and save lives.

This is why WSUP is committed to its vision and has been working towards a world in which people, including the poorest, can enjoy affordable and high-quality water and sanitation services.

He emphasized the role of clean water in proper handwashing and used the occasion to mention WSUP’s ongoing project with CWSA Ashanti region which is expanding the Onwe water system infrastructure to Donaso and connecting the people to household water.

Keynote addresses were given by CWSA, Ghana Health Service, and on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) all of which placed emphasis on handwashing and the role of everyone in making this practice within reach for people in our homes and communities.

Given the closing remark, the Chief of Donaso, Nana Akwesi Agyekum II expressed his appreciation to WSUP and CWSA for bringing the water project to his community and pledged his support in any way necessary to ensure the success of the project.

The event was attended by representatives of CWSA Ashanti region, the Ejisu Municipal Assembly, the Municipal Health Directorate, the chief and elders of Donaso, Assembly members and community members.