The World Health Organization and UNICEF have developed global guidelines for hand hygiene in community settings.
While the WHO has long maintained guidelines for clinical environments, this is the first time the organization has issued unified, science-based guidance for community settings.
The guidelines outline when and how to wash hands effectively, emphasizing that hand hygiene is a critical public health intervention. They also provide strategies for institutions to encourage behavior changes that support regular handwashing in public settings.
The guidance was issued Oct. 15 to coincide with Global Handwashing Day.
