Global Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated on 6th May, witnessed the collaboration of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the National Infection Prevention Team, and the staff of the National Referral Hospital (NRH). The central theme adopted for this year’s celebration was “SAVE LIVES: CLEAN YOUR HANDS”. Significantly, this highlights the critical role of hand hygiene in saving lives and controlling the spread of pathogens. Mrs. Kukari Lui, an NRH Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Nurse, underlined the importance of this practice as the cornerstone of IPC.
Thorough hand washing notably reduces the transmission of microorganisms, thereby promoting health safety for all. Mrs. Lui shed light on the consistent quarterly audits conducted by the IPC team, specifically focusing on hand hygiene practices. She revealed that poor hand hygiene compliance was recognized in some wards, largely due to the unavailability of alcohol-based hand rub at patient care points. Despite the challenges, she affirmed ongoing efforts to ameliorate this issue. A recent shift that promises a positive impact on hand hygiene practices is the donation of 200 bed brackets, the credit goes to WHO and Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) volunteers. These brackets are to be installed around the wards to conveniently aid health workers in performing hand hygiene at the point of care.
Furthermore, Mrs. Lui announced that the NRH pharmacy started manufacturing hand rub, thereby eliminating the need for external ordering. Although hand hygiene remains a challenge at NRH, it is encouraged that everyone including staff, patients, caregivers, and visitors cooperate to mitigate the risk of infection spread. National IPC Coordinator, Mr. Rolly Viga highlighted hands being the most common mode of transmission of pathogens. Consequently, clean hands emerge as the primary preventive measure against the spread of pathogens and antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings. With nearly 2 million patients acquiring infections in the United States hospitals each year as estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hand hygiene practices can considerably enhance patient safety and prevent infections. Mr. Viga extended encouragement to all for routine hand hygiene practice, as it can save lives and ensure a healthier future.
Source: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/710407526/global-hand-hygiene-day-celebrated