DUNDEE KZN: Seconds save lives, so wash your hands properly
Thus, celebrating World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5 is more important than ever to help sustain the promotion of this basic but critical action.
Dundee Hospital has joined the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global hand hygiene campaign to improve patient safety. Dundee Hospital’s Infection Prevention & Control team commemorated World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5) this year by reminding staff, patients and visitors about the importance of clean hands.
The WHO’s annual ‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ campaign is a global drive to improve hand hygiene in healthcare, celebrated every year on May 5, with participation from around the world. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, good hand hygiene practices are tremendously important to prevent the risk of transmission, as part of a comprehensive package of public health and infection control measures.
Effective hand hygiene also prevents any infection acquired in healthcare, the spread of antimicrobial resistance and other emerging health threats. Thus, celebrating World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5 is more important than ever to help sustain the promotion of this basic but critical action.
The theme this year is to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care. Dundee Hospital Infection Prevention & Control co-ordinator, Mrs N Makhaye said: “Hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to reduce healthcare-associated infections. We are calling on every member of staff to redouble their efforts to achieve effective hand hygiene at the point of care. The point of care is where the patient, the healthcare worker and treatment come together. To prevent the transmission of infectious micro-organisms, hand hygiene should be performed when needed (at five specific moments) and using the right technique.
Everyone has a part to play, so we are urging staff, patients, carers and visitors to help tackle infection by washing their hands and making use of the hand rub that is widely available throughout our facilities.” Global Hand Hygiene awareness will be held from 11am on May 14.
“We encourage everyone to attend to find out how they can help reduce the spread of infection through effective hand washing techniques, and remember that a few seconds of your time can save lives.” For further information, contact Mrs N Makhaye on 060-747-1190. Submitted by Mrs TT Vilakazi
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