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As the world marks Global hand washing day, WaterAid Ghana is calling on all to consider the spiraling Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the spread of cholera in nine regions of Ghana as an important reminder of the crucial role played by good hygiene and sanitation in protecting human health. Good hygiene, especially hand washing, is critical in helping to prevent the transmission of many infectious diseases including Ebola, cholera, and diarrhea. Unfortunately, in most of our communities� access to sanitation facilities and adequate potable water is missing and regular exposure to hygiene communication is very limited. According to the 2014 WHO! UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), 12.8% Ghanaians are without clean water and 85.6% lack access to improved sanitation, making hand washing and keeping clean a huge challenge. Such conditions do not only aid the spread of disease, but make it harder for healthcare services to prevent infections from spreading. The same JMP also projects that diarrhea and pneumonia may kill 20,456 people this year in Ghana. These needless deaths could be prevented through hand washing with soap. The Country Representative of WaterAid Ghana (WAG), Dr. Afia S. Zakiya said; "The presence of diseases such as ebola and cholera show what can happen when people lack basic toilets, clean water and are not practising good hygiene, including hand washing." Dr. Zakiya also noted the numerous occasions where she has heard "stories from our communities about how having access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) transforms their lives and their communities. People are able to engage in economic! Productive activities, able to take care of their basic needs which allow them to think about other higher level needs and aspirations they may have in life. They are able to live healthier lives and their environments are cleaner." To mark Global Hand Washing day this year, WaterAid Ghana engaged selected food vendors in Nima in the Greater Accra Region to discuss how best to provide hand washing facilities for their customers. WAG considers food vendors as one of our key hygiene promotion partners. Through them we hope to encourage many people to make proper hand washing with soap under running water, especially at critical times, a habit. Similar activities took place in Akuapem North District in the Eastern Region and Gusheigu District in the Northern Region. Dr. Zakiya said 'since 1985, WaterAid Ghana has supported hundreds of communities and over 1,000,000 people to have access to safe water and sanitation facilities and hygiene.' Dr. Zakiya said WaterAid remains steadfast in commitment to the people of Ghana. "WAG is pleased to use Global Hand washing Day as an opportunity to carry out culturally sensitive hygiene promotion activities," she said. WaterAid Ghana also wants to emphasize that it is a very important moment for us to actively demand that District, Municipal, and Metropolitan Chief Executives and others in leadership roles to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure appropriate prioritization and funding to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Furthermore, these leaders must realize and act upon the fact that WASH is the foundation of good public health. Dr. Afia S. Zakiya Country Representative