Clean Hands, Healthy Lives: Celebrating World Handwashing Day with The Noakes Foundation
Each year on 15 October, the world comes together to celebrate Global Handwashing Day, a reminder that one of the simplest acts can save millions of lives. Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective and affordable measures for preventing infections and improving overall health outcomes. Yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), nearly one in four healthcare facilities globally lack basic hand hygiene services, leaving communities vulnerable to disease.
- Ignaz Semmelweis (1818 -1865), a Hungarian physician working in Vienna, is often credited as the “father of hand hygiene.” In 1847, he observed that women in his hospital’s maternity ward had far higher mortality rates when doctors moved from dissections to deliveries without washing their hands. He introduced handwashing with chlorinated lime solutions, and mortality dropped dramatically.
- Ignaz Semmelweis is regarded as a significant figure because the medical profession persecuted him for advocating handwashing, much like Prof. Tim Noakes for his views on carbohydrates
This year’s theme is “Clean Hands Are Within Reach,” which encourages collective action to ensure access to handwashing for all. Proper hand hygiene is not only about personal cleanliness; it’s about fostering a culture of health awareness, resilience, and prevention values deeply aligned with the mission of The Noakes Foundation (TNF).
Let’s link Hand Hygiene and Metabolic Health. While handwashing primarily prevents infectious diseases, it also plays an indirect yet important role in supporting the immune system, which is essential for metabolic health. The Noakes Foundation’s work in promoting real-food nutrition through initiatives like Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) emphasises that a strong immune system starts with both clean habits and nutrient-dense foods.
Research shows that individuals with optimal nutrition are better equipped to fight infections and recover faster (Jones et al., 2021). By combining improved hygiene practices with balanced, low-carbohydrate diets, communities can enhance both their infectious disease resilience and metabolic well-being, a dual approach that TNF champions in underserved South African communities.
Through its grassroots education programmes, The Noakes Foundation continues to empower individuals to make sustainable lifestyle choices. In the same way that teaching communities about whole-food nutrition creates lasting change, educating people about hand hygiene strengthens public health at a foundational level.
As we mark World Handwashing Day, The Noakes Foundation reaffirms its commitment to advancing public health through science-based education, nutrition advocacy, and community-led action. Clean hands and real food are simple, powerful tools for a healthier South Africa.
References
Jones, M., Smith, R. & Patel, K. (2021) ‘Nutrition and immune function: The role of diet in infectious disease prevention’, Journal of Public Health Nutrition, 24(3), pp. 345–353.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021) Global progress report on WASH in health care facilities: Fundamentals first. Geneva: WHO.
