EVERY year on October 15, millions around the world unite under one simple yet powerful idea — that clean hands save lives.
Since its founding in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership, Global Handwashing Day has become a worldwide movement inspiring schools, communities, and organisations to champion this life-saving habit.
This year’s theme, “Be a Handwashing Hero,” reminds us that each of us — from schoolchildren to health workers, from parents to policymakers — has the power to make a difference.
The lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic remain clear: hand hygiene is not just a routine; it’s a frontline defence against illness.
Yet, even today, 2.3 billion people still lack access to a basic handwashing facility — a statistic that challenges us to act, invest, and inspire. As we step into a “new normal,” it’s time to turn awareness into action — to make clean hands a daily habit, a shared responsibility, and a lasting legacy.
Ocean Soaps — Leading the change in Fiji and the Pacific
In Fiji, Ocean Soaps, a proud subsidiary of the Punjas Group, marked the occasion with great enthusiasm at the Global Handwashing Day 2025 celebration held at the Girmit Centre, Lautoka.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Health and supported by Ocean Soaps, drew a lively crowd of health officials, teachers, and nearly 900 students.
The day came alive with activity — a Handwashing Drill that turned hygiene into a joyful group exercise, an elocution competition where young orators spoke passionately about the theme “Be a Handwashing Hero,” and a poster competition that transformed the message of clean hands into colourful works of art.
It was a day of learning, laughter, and leadership — proving that even the simplest actions, like washing hands with soap, can make everyday heroes of us all.
Bodyguard and MedX — Hygiene
solutions for every need
Supporting the mission of sustained hygiene across Fiji and the South Pacific, Ocean Soaps proudly offers two trusted product ranges — Bodyguard and MedX — each crafted to meet unique consumer needs and settings.
Bodyguard: A complete family care range, from bar soaps and shower gels to liquid handwashes — designed for men, women, and children to make daily hygiene effortless and enjoyable.
MedX: The trusted antibacterial line, featuring MedX Cleansing Bars (introduced in 2019), MedX Deo Care Hand Wash, and MedX Hand Sanitizers (70 per cent Ethyl Alcohol) that meet WHO standards — available in 60 ml, 500 ml, and 4 L sizes, for both personal and institutional use.
Together, Bodyguard and MedX form a complete hygiene ecosystem — supporting both everyday handwashing and emergency protection when water isn’t available.
Clean hands. Healthy communities. A shared future.
As we continue this journey, Ocean Soaps reaffirms its commitment to promoting better hygiene habits — at home, in schools, and across communities.
Let’s make clean hands not just a practice, but a value, a habit, and a shared promise — for a healthier Fiji, and for generations to come.
Right: The Oceans Soaps factory. A leading manufacturer of bathing soaps, soap powder, fresh air deodorants, multipurpose bars, dishwashing liquids, window cleaners, sand soap and candles.
A student at the at the execution competition.
Poster competition for students.
Students gathering for Global Dishwashing Day 2025, at the Girmit Centre. Pictures: SUPPLIED
