31 October 2012: The World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) welcomed efforts by the Peruvian Health Ministry in “Promoting Handwashing as a Healthy Practice.” Noting WSP work in Peru since 2003, the new norm is expected to promote handwashing in the public health system at the national level.

The handwashing policy was released in concert with the global celebration of Handwashing Day and will form the basis for national level budget allocations for handwashing promotion and scaling up sanitation efforts at the national scale. The policy aims to reduce the transmission of diseases and increase the 46% of surveyed caregivers in Peru that wash their hands following defecation by promoting uptake of handwashing practices. [World Bank WSP Press Release]