'People at all levels need to believe in the importance of hand hygiene and IPC to save lives.' World Hand Hygiene Day 5 May 2002 reminds us that the most basic healthcare information (which in the case of hand hygiene has been known about for more than 150 years, but is often forgotten) is typically the most important.
Read online: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day/2022
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When a health facility's "quality and safety climate or culture" values hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC), this results in both patients and health workers feeling protected and cared for.
To prioritize clean hands in health facilities, people at all levels need to believe in the importance of hand hygiene and IPC to save lives, by acting as key players in achieving the appropriate behaviours and attitudes towards it. In other words, health workers at all levels and people accessing health care facilities need to unite on ensuring clean hands.
This year's theme for World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD), 5 May 2022, is focused on recognizing that we can add to a facility's climate or culture of safety and quality through cleaning our hands but also that a strong quality and safety culture will encourage people to clean hands at the right times and with the right products.
Unite, talk and work together on hand hygiene for high quality safer care everywhere.
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Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
