On Hand Hygiene Day, Dr Nubwa Medugu, Consultant Pathologist, with the National Hospital Abuja, says one in every ten patients get avoidable infection while receiving care in health facilities.
Medugu who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday, stressed that proper washing of hands by individuals was one of the most important way to prevent and control the spread of many illnesses.
She said the theme according to World Health Organisation is “Clean Care for all, it’s in your hands.”
She said the 2019 Hand Hygiene Day commemorated on May 5, was an annual global campaign which aims to maintain a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.
Medugu explained that good hand hygiene would help reduce the risk of infections such as flu, food poisoning and healthcare associated infections which could be passed from one person to another.
She said that in commemoration of the day, the WHO, called on everyone to be inspired by the global movement to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in achieving better health and well being.
This she said includes financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
According to WHO, Infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene was critical to achieving UHC, as it was practical and evidence based approach with demonstrated impact on quality of care and patient safety at all levels.
The consultant further noted that The National Hospital Abuja, would commemorate the World Hygiene Day on May 6.
She said the celebration include a solidarity chain march by healthcare leaders, seminars on best practices in hand hygiene, lectures for patients, relatives and care givers on how to keep their hands clean to avoid getting infection in hospitals.
