The World Health Organization's Safe Hands Challenge is a public health-focused challenge aimed at educating people around the globe about best practices for hand-washing during the COVID-19 crisis. The Elders urge everyone to follow the World Health Organization’s advice on personal hygiene measures such as regular hand-washing.

This week, three of the Elders took part in the online challenge to raise awareness of good hand-washing practice.

Handwashing is a pivotal, frontline defence against spreading the coronavirus.

Mary Robinson takes the WHO Safe Hands Challenge: "There are several measures you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 and one of these is washing your hands."

Graça Machel and the other Elders urge everyone to follow the World Health Organization’s advice on personal hygiene measures such as regular hand-washing, covering ones mouth when sneezing or coughing, and staying at home if any COVID-19 symptoms are suspected.

"We need to be safe, be smart, and be kind to one another." - Ban Ki-moon

You can find the Safe Hands Challenge on social media under the hashtags #SafeHands and #SafeHandsChallenge and the World Health Organization has lots of information on how individuals can protect themselves and their loved ones on their website.

Read more about The Elders call on global leaders and citizens alike to root their response to the Covid-19 pandemic in humanitarian principles and solidarity.