Leading and Learning in wash
Leading and Learning in wash
Matthew Freeman, Bethany Caruso and Marlene Wolfe participated in the launch of their BMJ – Global Health Supplement in London. The five papers from this supplement, all led by Emory (plus a commentary led by the WHO), reviewed the literature on hand hygiene in community settings and will directly support the first ever WHO/UNICEF Global Guideline on Hand Hygiene in Community Settings. The event previewed the launch of the guidelines and include discussants from WHO, UNICEF, the BMJ, and the UK Government, among others.
📣 A new supplement published in BMJ Global Health has informed forthcoming WHO and UNICEF global guidelines on hand hygiene in community settings.
The supplement features five systematic reviews, which focus on the barriers to effective hashtaghandwashing; minimum material requirements; behavioural factors; strategies to improve handwashing; and the effectiveness of government measures.
🧼A lack of soap is the most often reported barrier to effective hand hygiene, key to curbing the spread of infection in shared community spaces, such as households, schools, and public places.
🧪Data suggests that handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers are effective for removing bacteria; yet evidence is sparse for soap alternatives (like ash and sand).
🔎 Researchers also found that most of the reported efforts to improve handwashing didn’t always address identified barriers or fully consider the fundamental resources needed for hand hygiene, such as soap, water, and handwashing facilities.
This supplement makes a powerful case for moving beyond short-term projects and toward sustained, government-led efforts that integrate hygiene into national strategies.
🌎 Experts say that hand hygiene not only protects health and strengthens community resilience, but it also reduces pressure on health systems by saving resources needed for other health priorities.
The new WHO and UNICEF guidelines on hand hygiene in community settings will be released on hashtagGlobalHandwashingDay, 15 October 2025.
💡 Read the Supplement here: https://lnkd.in/ed8Z_iQb
WHO UNICEF Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University Joanna Esteves Mills Matthew Freeman Marlene Wolfe Bethany Caruso
hashtagWASH hashtagGlobalHealth hashtagPublicHealth hashtagHandHygiene
