Accra: A World Health Organisation (WHO) report indicates that approximately 70 per cent of healthcare workers do not routinely practice hand hygiene. It also revealed that as little as 50 per cent of surgical teams comply with hand hygiene best practices throughout a surgical patient’s hospital stay.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Sally Ann Ohene, a representative of the WHO Country Office, highlighted these findings during the launch of the 2025 Global Hand Hygiene Day in Accra. She emphasized that healthcare-associated infections are a global concern, affecting hundreds of millions of patients annually. Dr. Ohene noted that the rate of transmission in healthcare settings has resulted in preventable infections, which could be fatal if untreated.
Dr. Ohene pointed out that infections at surgical sites are the most common type of infection in low- and middle-income countries, with a pooled incidence of 11.8 per cent compared to 1.2 – 5.2 per cent in developed countries. She stressed the importance of proper hand hygiene practices to mitigate the spread of germs and health-associated infections.
She urged healthcare workers to improve infection prevention by adhering to the WHO’s ‘My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’, which includes washing hands before patient contact, before clean or aseptic procedures, after exposure to body fluids, after touching a patient, and after touching a patient’s surroundings. Dr. Ohene also called on facility managers to promote these practices through standard operating procedures and training.
The Global Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 5 each year, serves as a reminder of the essential role of hand hygiene in preventing infections and promoting public health. The theme for the launch was ‘It May be Gloves, It is Always Hand Hygiene’, underscoring the importance of hand hygiene even when gloves are used.
Dr. Serwah Amoah, from the National Infection Prevention and Control Committee, noted that despite the simplicity of hand hygiene, compliance levels among health staff remain low. She advocated for facilities to ensure adherence to guidelines and standards by providing necessary infrastructure.
Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, officially launched the Global Hand Hygiene Day. He highlighted government initiatives, including monitoring hand hygiene compliance in hospitals by 2026, promoting waste management systems, and supporting local production of hygiene products.
The Minister emphasized extending hygiene education beyond healthcare facilities to homes, schools, and communities to cultivate a culture of hygiene. He urged patients to ensure their healthcare providers maintain hand hygiene and called for development partners to reinforce their commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.