The Ministry of Health has joined the global health community today to commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to infection prevention and control through the promotion of proper hand hygiene practices.
This year’s observance, held under the theme “It may be gloves,It’s always hand hygiene,” highlighted the indispensable role of clean hands in safeguarding health and ensuring safe care delivery across all levels of the health system.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stated that this year’s commemoration aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework for Infection Prevention and Control (2024 2030), as well as Ghana’s own National IPC Strategy.
He noted that while gloves are essential in clinical settings, they must never replace hand hygiene and he called for consistent hand hygiene practices from top-level administrators to frontline workers, especially as the country continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The celebration, according to the Minister, highlighted progress made under the IPC framework, including the establishment of a National IPC Committee that meets quarterly to guide policy implementation, the appointment of a national IPC focal person to oversee activities nationwide, and the integration of hand hygiene indicators into the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2).
He announced that by 2026, all regional and teaching hospitals in Ghana will be required to routinely monitor hand hygiene compliance and incorporate feedback into their quality improvement systems.
Hon. Akandoh stressed that hand hygiene education must extend beyond hospitals into homes, schools, and communities, creating a culture where everyone plays a role. He encouraged citizens to empower patients to ask, “Have you washed your hands?” and urged health leaders to lead by example.
An address made by a representative from the World Health Organisation indicated that approximately 70% of health care workers do not routinely practice hand hygiene and as little as 50% of surgical teams comply with hand hygiene best practice throughout a surgical patient’s hospital stay.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/PR Unit
