TELL Magazine

The World Health Organization, WHO celebrates the annual World Hand  Hygiene Day, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. With the celebration, it aims to recognize nurses and midwives as front-line heroes who deserve acknowledgment and appreciation, and highlight their critical roles in infection prevention under the slogan,  “Save Lives, Clean your hands”.

According to WHO,  the main goal of the Global Hand Hygiene Day campaign is to recognize that hand washing is one of the most effective actions you can take to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus. Health workers and community members alike can play a role in preventing infections by practising regular and frequent hand washing.

Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO, while highlighting the 2020 global hand hygiene campaign objective, said.

“As part of the 2020 campaign, WHO and partners aim to Make hand hygiene a global priority, inspire hand hygiene and behavior change,  engage with health care workers in their role in clean care and the prevention of infections.”

“The campaign also makes a call to action to policy-makers to provide safe work environments for nurses and improve staffing levels. Additionally, it calls on infection prevention and control leaders to empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care. The campaign also contributes to the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Call to Action on WASH in health care facilities.”

“On 5 May, join us in celebrating nurses and midwives around the world, by sharing campaign and promoting campaign materials available on the campaign website and also to take part in WHO’s  SafeHands Challenge by Clapping for nurses and midwives at noon on 5 May to thank and recognize their critical role in delivering clean care.