🗓 What is World Hand Hygiene Day?

World Hand Hygiene Day, observed every year on May 5th, is an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) under its global campaign “SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands”. The day aims to promote the importance of hand hygiene in preventing infections and protecting public health, especially in healthcare settings.

🧠 Why is Hand Hygiene So Important?

Your hands are the main pathways of germ transmission. Every day, we unknowingly touch contaminated surfaces, shake hands, use our mobile phones, and interact with many objects that harbor infectious microbes.

Hand hygiene is the single most effective measure to prevent the spread of:

• Respiratory infections (like flu, COVID-19, tuberculosis)

• Diarrheal diseases (such as cholera, typhoid)

• Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)

• Skin infections and eye infections

• Drug-resistant organisms (e.g., MRSA, VRE)

🧼 World Hand Hygiene Day: Clean Hands Save Lives

🏥 Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

In hospitals and clinics like Al Haider Healthcare, maintaining proper hand hygiene can mean the difference between life and death—especially for vulnerable patients like newborns, elderly people, and those with chronic conditions.

Healthcare professionals must:

• Clean hands before and after patient contact

• Use alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) or wash with soap and water when visibly soiled

• Follow the "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" as recommended by WHO

✋ The "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" (WHO Guidelines)

1. Before touching a patient

2. Before clean/aseptic procedures

3. After body fluid exposure/risk

4. After touching a patient

5. After touching patient surroundings

These moments ensure that infection control is maintained during the entire care process.

🌍 Theme 2025: "Clean Hands – A Shared Responsibility"

This year’s theme emphasizes collective action. Governments, healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, and the general public all share the responsibility to promote and practice hand hygiene.

✅ How to Wash Hands Properly

Step-by-Step Method (WHO Recommended):

1. Wet hands with water

2. Apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces

3. Rub palms together

4. Rub back of each hand with the palm of the other hand

5. Interlace fingers and rub between them

6. Rub backs of fingers against opposite palms

7. Rub each thumb clasped in the opposite hand

8. Rub tips of fingers in the opposite palm

9. Rinse hands with water

10. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer

🕒 Total time: 40–60 seconds

🧴 When Should the General Public Clean Their Hands?

• Before eating or handling food

• After using the toilet

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose

• After touching garbage

• After caring for sick individuals

• After returning from public places (markets, buses, etc.)

📣 Role of Al Haider Healthcare in Promoting Hand Hygiene

At Al Haider Healthcare, we are committed to:

• Educating patients and staff about hand hygiene

• Providing access to hand sanitizers at every care point

• Conducting awareness campaigns in rural and urban communities

• Ensuring our team follows strict infection prevention protocols

🧼 A Simple Act. A Global Impact.

Hand hygiene might seem like a small step, but it creates a huge impact—preventing infections, saving lives, and reducing healthcare costs. Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, patient, student, or parent—clean hands are your best protection.

🔔 Remember this on May 5th and every day: Clean hands are caring hands. Let’s make hand hygiene a habit, not an option.

Stay safe, stay healthy.