World Hand Hygiene Day

World Hand Hygiene Day, observed on 5th May by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare. Hand Hygiene plays a vital role in reducing the spread of pathogens and preventing infections, including the COVID-19 virus.

Highlights :

Worldwide, May 5th is commemorated as World Hand Hygiene Day every year
On this day, awareness on the importance of hand hygiene in health care is promoted
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to wash hands frequently with soap and water to protect against the virus

World Hand Hygiene Day is observed globally every year on 5th May by the World Health Organization (WHO). This day aims at creating awareness on hand hygiene and to provide effective hand hygiene practices to achieve better health and well-being.

‘World Hand Hygiene Day, observed on 5th May by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare. Hand Hygiene plays a vital role in reducing the spread of pathogens and preventing infections, including the COVID-19 virus.’
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Who’s the Father of Hand Hygiene?

Hand hygiene is one of the most effective methods to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian doctor known as the father of hand hygiene, discovered the power of hand-washing in 1847 and now, the medical field recognizes washing hands with soap and water are the best way to prevent, control and reduce infection.

Maintaining Hand Hygiene is One Way of Harm Reduction
Keeping hands clean is one way of harm reduction, especially infections like soil-transmitted helminth and dysentery can be avoided in children with hand washing.

Hand Hygiene 2020: WHO Calls for Action

The theme for the year 2020 is “SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands” and WHO has aligned with the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. On this day, WHO aims to recognize nurses and midwives as front-line heroes because they deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated, especially of the critical roles they play in infection prevention, like COVID-19.

The world needs about 9 million more nurses and midwives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. Here’s the action call:

Nurses: “Clean and safe care starts with you"
Midwives: “Your hands make all the difference for mothers and babies”
Policy Makers: "Increase nurse staffing levels to prevent infections and improve quality of care. Create the means to empower nurses and midwives”
IPC Leaders: "Empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care"
Patients and Families: "Safer care for you, with you"

Nurses and midwives play a crucial role in providing health services. They devote their lives in caring for mothers and children,providing immunizations, giving health advice, looking after the elderly, also meeting everyday essential health needs. During the 2020 campaign, WHO and partners aim to:

Make hand hygiene a global priority
Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
Engage with healthcare workers in their role in clean care and the prevention of infections.

COVID-19: How to Deal with Dry Hands from Too Much Hand Washing
Frequent hand washing can save you from COVID-19, but not from dryness. Cleaning your hands with soap, hand wash, or hand sanitizer often can cause dry and flaky skin. Therefore, applying a thick moisturizer before going to bed at night can prevent your skin from drying out.

Hand Hygiene during COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread like wildfire to more than 200 countries. Good hygiene practices like washing hands, keeping the house clean can help you wipe out the deadly virus.

Keep the following critical times in mind and wash your hands immediately to prevent the spread of germs:

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before and after eating food
Before and after caring for a sick person
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
After using the toilet
After handling pets
After touching garbage

Simple Steps to Wash Your Hands

Step 1: Wet hands and apply soap well, then rub hands together
Step 2Rub the back of both hands
Step 3: Interlace fingers and rub hands together
Step 4: Interlock fingers and rub the back of fingers of both hands
Step 5: Rub thumb in a rotating manner followed by the area between the index fingers and thumb for both hands
Step 6: Rub fingertips on the palm of both hands. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel.

Here are a few hand cleansing agents that you could use:

Detergents like soaps can remove transient contaminants
Antimicrobial agents, ex. Chlorhexidine
Antiseptic surgical scrubs, ex. Betadine

Frequently washing hands with soap and water can protect against COVID-19. Parents should help children inculcate such habits early so that they can grow into healthy adults.

Conclusion

Clean care can save lives. Washing your hands with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer is one of the best ways to stay safe during this pandemic. By doing this, we not only protect ourselves, but we also play a crucial role in stopping the spread of infections to others.

Along with doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, let us come together on this World Hand Hygiene Day and pledge clean hands to flatten the coronavirus curve.

To stop the spread of the virus – #StayHome #StayClean #StayHealthy

References :

SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands 5 May 2020 - (https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/campaigns/clean-hands/5may2020/en/)
STOP! Clean Your Hands Day - (https://www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca/en/Events/StopCleanYourHandsDay/Pages/default.aspx)
What Is Hand Hygiene? - (https://www.hha.org.au/hand-hygiene/what-is-hand-hygiene)
Hand hygiene - (https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Facts-about-hand-hygiene)

Source-Medindia