Globally, hand washing is an easy and effective way to curb the spread of disease.
By Jenna Hughes
Hand washing is a simple but extremely effective way to prevent illness. Many diseases are spread through touch. Keeping yourself and those around you healthy can be achieved by washing hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water.
Each year, the World Health Organization recognizes May 5 as World Hand Hygiene Day. The global annual day of recognition highlights the benefit of improving hand hygiene in health care settings. The 2023 focus, according to the WHO, is to “accelerate implementation of lessons from the COVID-19 and galvanize action on preventing infections and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare.”
The WHO will work to implement these year-long goals through engagement with communities of healthcare workers and policy makers. Specific focus will be on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs), such as the United Nations, in hand hygiene. CSOs are called to accelerate the implementation of healthy handwashing practices locally and internationally.
The importance of hand washing
Handwashing with soap and running water removes infectious bacteria and viruses from the hands. Microorganisms that cause disease can be transferred from an individual touching their eyes, nose, or mouth onto other objects like handrails and tabletops, resulting in the spread of disease.
Healthcare workers and individuals who assist in healthcare settings can contribute to increased safety and sanitation of medical facilities through consistent hand washing.
Additionally, those involved in healthcare can encourage and lead in proper handwashing for disease prevention. “Feeling empowered to talk about hand hygiene is important to ensure clean hands in the context of organizational safety,” according to the WHO.
How healthcare workers can be leaders in hand hygiene
While performing their day-to-day jobs, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers often encounter a wide variety of patients, and no matter the field, they are potentially exposed to many diseases. “Healthcare associated infections (an infection caught by a patient while receiving healthcare) are a major global patient safety concern,” says the WHO. Washing hands thoroughly between the care of each patient is the most effective way to reduce the chance of these types of infections.
Healthcare workers can be leaders and role models on effective hand washing within the workplace. There should be an adequate supply of sanitizer dispensers and access to sinks, soap, and towels throughout a medical facility. Patients can also play a critical role in maintaining the hand hygiene of a medical facility. Patients should be encouraged by healthcare workers to engage in proper handwashing while at a facility.
In previous years, the hand hygiene campaign set forth by the WHO dramatically increased hand washing awareness globally and overall reduced healthcare associated infections. For instance, according to the WHO, in 2022, the country of Saudi Arabia had more than 2,100 registered hand hygiene coordinators. “The country is ensuring hand hygiene requirements are integrated into health systems and that all tools for prevention are accessible to control of infections.” These results are reflected across nations and are proven to ensure the reduction of healthcare associated infections.