Latest news with #WorldHandHygieneDay
Borneo Post
15-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Hand hygiene is daily defence, not just campaign, says Sibu Hospital director
(From left) Molly, Dr Vivek, Dr Nanthakumar, Lau, and Dr Nizam pose for a photo-call, while showing their palms in a symbolic gesture to mark World Hand Hygiene Day. SIBU (May 15): In conjunction with World Hand Hygiene Day, Sibu Hospital launched a comprehensive campaign to emphasise the importance of hand hygiene, not just as an annual initiative but as a daily practice to prevent infectious diseases. Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu stressed that proper hand hygiene should become a regular habit, particularly at home, alongside healthcare settings. 'True hand hygiene goes beyond campaigns. Making it a daily routine can significantly reduce illnesses, especially among children and parents,' he said. During the launching of the event yesterday, various awareness activities were held, including a hand hygiene video competition involving over 900 hospital staff, from doctors and nurses to support personnel. These efforts, according to Dr Nanthakumar, are crucial in improving compliance scores, which he noted could rise from 80 per cent to 90 per cent through sustained education and engagement. He also highlighted how the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the effectiveness of hand-washing and mask-wearing in reducing the spread of diseases such as influenza and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD). 'Simple actions like washing hands and wearing masks can curb the spread of infections,' he said. Dr Nanthakumar further warned of growing risks within hospitals due to the presence of drug-resistant organisms Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO). 'In such times, surveillance and response must be heightened. Hand hygiene is a basic, yet powerful defence,' he added. He also advocated for a holistic approach to health, encouraging good hygiene, healthy eating, and lifestyle habits to prevent disease and reduce reliance on strong antibiotics, which are becoming less effective due to rising resistance. Present at the event were Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker and Lanang MP Alice Lau, alongside key officials from the State Health Department (JKNS), including senior principal assistant director Dr Vivek Vijayan, Sibu Hospital deputy director Dr Nizam Ishak, and JKNS infection control coordinator Matron Molly Hafsah Jemat. The World Hand Hygiene Day, spearheaded by the World Health Organisation, promotes the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare and everyday life under this year's campaign themed 'It Might Be Gloves, But It's Always Hand Hygiene'. Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu lead Sibu Hospital World Hand Hygiene Day
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Earliest flu season in a decade hits the Vaal
Given the early arrival of the flu season and the dominance of circulating strains, health authorities are urging the public – especially high-risk individuals, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions – to prioritise flu vaccination and seek medical care early if flu-like symptoms develop. Observed annually on May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day underscores the critical role of handwashing in curbing the spread of infectious diseases, particularly during the colder months when illnesses like influenza and respiratory infections rise. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the 2025 flu season began exceptionally early, starting in the week of March 24 (week 13) – making it the earliest onset in more than a decade. This marks a significant shift, as the 2024 season only began four weeks later, in late April. Data from the NICD's pneumonia surveillance programme also confirms that the most prevalent influenza strain currently in circulation is influenza, which accounts for 68% of lab-confirmed cases to date. Respiratory illnesses, like colds and flu, are transmitted through droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces, making hand hygiene an essential barrier against infection. The World Health Organisation emphasises that proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings and the community. Key times to wash hands include: Before and after eating and preparing food; When caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting/diarrhea; Before and after treating wounds; After using the toilet, changing nappies or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; After coughing or sneezing; After touching animals or their waste; After touching dirt, and when coming home from public places. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Americans still don't know how and when to wash their hands
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Some Americans are still not doing their due diligence when it comes to washing their hands. That's according to a new survey that found nearly half of its respondents forget or choose not to wash their hands at key times, such as after visiting grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and health care settings including a doctor's office or hospital. For some of us, the hygiene lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic apparently have not sunk in — although the survey, funded by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, did find that 33% of participants wash their hands more now than they did during the crisis. 'We have been talking about handwashing probably back to the days when all of us were in preschool or even kindergarten,' said Dr. Robert Hopkins, the foundation's medical director. 'I would have hoped that we would think of that as a core way of keeping ourselves healthy regardless of our other health behaviors. 'It's a nonspecific way that we can reduce risk for exposure to infectious diseases, along with dirt, grime [and] all of the other things we don't like to see on our hands.' Released Monday, on World Hand Hygiene Day, the survey is part of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' Hands in for Handwashing Campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of handwashing to help stop the spread of infectious diseases. The research was conducted by NORC (formerly called the National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago. The report highlights when, where and why nearly 3,600 adults surveyed between December and March were most likely to wash or not wash their hands, and how some of those habits differed between age groups and genders. Sixty-two percent of participants correctly answered that washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is the method that most effectively reduces the spread of germs, while 13% thought less time would be enough and 24% believed more time is needed. The top three situations that prompted respondents to wash their hands were using the bathroom, handling food and handling human or animal waste. 'This is good news, given that a single gram of human feces can contain 1 trillion germs — including Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus — that can cause disease,' the report stated. But only 30% of participants said they were most likely to wash their hands after sneezing or coughing, 'which is concerning given how easily respiratory diseases such as influenza … can spread,' the report added. Among the nearly half of adults who didn't wash their hands at important times, forgetting was the most common reason why. But 20% actively chose to not wash their hands, with some thinking that the practice wasn't necessary, that they didn't have time or that they didn't want to dry out their hands. Men were more likely than women to not wash their hands at important times and to think handwashing requires less time. Adults older than 60 were most diligent in their handwashing habits, with 74% doing so after using the bathroom or handling food. The greater likelihood in this age group may be due to awareness of the fact that older adults have a higher risk of getting sick, according to the report. Or the trend could be caused by a longer lifetime of habits, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, who wasn't involved in the research. 'Older folks, we didn't have the hand sanitizers when we were younger,' Benjamin said. 'When I went outside to play, when I came back in, I was supposed to wash my hands. So I think that you're looking at behaviors that may have changed from a generation to another generation.' Some participants' handwashing habits depended on the season, with 26% reporting washing their hands more frequently in the fall and winter. The variance makes sense given that some respiratory illnesses peak during colder weather, the report stated. Public health messaging is also more prevalent during this season, Benjamin said. 'However, other germs — like those that cause colds, norovirus, and other infectious diseases — can spread throughout the year,' according to the survey. 'It is important to maintain proper hand hygiene all year round to help stay healthy.' Most adults surveyed said they wash their hands to protect their own health, feel clean, avoid spreading germs to others, and avoid getting sick and missing work or school. Handwashing can make a big difference. 'Since about 80% of infectious diseases are spread by dirty hands, routine, proper handwashing throughout the year can significantly help prevent the spread of infectious diseases,' according to the report. 'In just 20 seconds, handwashing can help prevent the spread of diseases like flu, COVID-19, and norovirus.' The habit can also prevent 1 in 3 people from getting diarrhea and 1 in 5 people from developing a respiratory illness, Dr. Vincent Hill, adjunct associate professor of environmental health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, told CNN in 2020. For people who often forget to wash their hands, an increase in public health signage in public — or in do-it-yourself signage at home — reminding people to do so could be worthwhile, Benjamin said. And if you're one of those people who doesn't wash their hands after using the restroom because they 'only went pee,' Hopkins urged people to remember that in public restrooms especially, there are at least millions of bacteria on every surface you're touching, from the many people going in and out of that bathroom all day. Even if your urine is sterile, it doesn't mean everything else is. Hand sanitizer is great to have when you absolutely can't wash your hands, but you shouldn't depend on it, given its inability to kill certain bacteria or viruses such as C. diff and norovirus, Hopkins said. If you're worried about your hands being too dry after washing or sanitizing, you can carry a small bottle of lotion in your bag or car, experts said. Applying lotion when your hands are still slightly damp helps your skin lock in moisture. 'Proper handwashing puts the power of health in our own hands,' said Patricia A. Stinchfield, immediate past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene: WHO
Gloves look like the ultimate hygiene hack Most of us never thought twice about hand gloves until the pandemic turned them into a must-have accessory right next to masks and hand sanitizers. But even now, gloves continue to play a quiet but powerful role in reducing infections, especially in medical, caregiving, and food-handling settings. Think of gloves as your first line of defense—blocking direct contact with germs, viruses, and nasty bacteria lurking on surfaces, body fluids, or even raw food. For healthcare workers, gloves aren't optional—they're lifesavers, have gone mainstream. From salons to street vendors, people are using them more consciously to avoid cross-contamination. The awareness that dirty hands spread everything from colds to E. coli has stuck with us post-COVID, and that's a good thing. The popularity of gloves, especially disposable nitrile and latex ones, has skyrocketed—not just as protective gear but as a signal that someone's taking hygiene WHO has said that gloves do not replace hand hygiene. "While medical gloves serve a vital role in preventing transmission of infection, for example when there is risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time," the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said on World Hand Hygiene Day.'Medical gloves can reduce the risk of infection, but they are never a replacement for hand hygiene,' said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course. 'On this World Hand Hygiene Day, let us double down on our commitment and action to improve hand hygiene in health care settings to ensure the safety of patients and health-care workers.'"Additionally, overuse of gloves contributes to environmental degradation," the WHO report said. "An average university hospital in a developed country generates 1634 tons of health-care waste each year, which is equivalent to over 360 African elephants. Much of the waste could have been avoided if gloves were used properly and good hand hygiene was practiced. Most used gloves are considered infectious and require high-temperature incineration or specialized treatment, adding strain to already burdened waste management systems," it slip them on, and boom—you feel safe from germs. And yes, gloves absolutely have their place. In hospitals, labs, and even your kitchen, they offer a solid layer of protection against infections. But here's the not-so-glamorous truth: gloves aren't foolproof, and they're definitely not problem-free. First off, just wearing gloves doesn't make you immune to spreading germs. In fact, gloves can give a false sense of security. People often touch everything—phones, doorknobs, their face—with gloves on, thinking they're protected. But if the gloves pick up germs and you rub your eye or scratch your nose? You're still exposed. It's like wearing muddy shoes and walking all over your clean there's the issue of cross-contamination. Gloves can transfer bacteria just as easily as bare hands if you're not careful. Ever seen someone wear the same pair of gloves for hours? Yup, not helping. And let's not forget about allergies and skin irritation—especially from latex gloves. Plus, overusing gloves can actually damage the skin underneath, making it dry and more prone to tiny cuts, which opens the door to—you guessed it— are a helpful tool, but they're not a substitute for good hygiene. Wash your hands. Change gloves often. Don't touch your face. And remember—clean hands, not just covered hands, are your best defense.
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Health protection startswith hand hygiene: PHCC
Tribune News Network Doha On World Hand Hygiene Day, on May 5, 2025, under the slogan 'It Might Be Gloves. It's Always Hand Hygiene', the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health, is participating in the annual global campaign organised by the World Health Organization (WHO). The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of hand hygiene—regardless of glove use—as a fundamental measure to protect both patients and healthcare workers. Dr Hamad Al Mudahka, executive director of the Preventive Health Directorate, emphasised the corporation's commitment to minimising the various risks that may arise in health centres, including the transmission of microbes, with hands being a primary vector for many infectious diseases. He noted that infections can be transmitted either directly or indirectly via contaminated surfaces. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 80 percent of infectious diseases are spread through touch, making hand hygiene the simplest and most effective method for preventing infections both in the community and healthcare settings. We can protect ourselves and others by adopting healthy practices such as regular handwashing—especially after sneezing or coughing, before eating, and after using the restroom. It is also essential to avoid touching the face (mouth, nose, and eyes) with unclean hands, to use tissues when sneezing or coughing and dispose of them properly, and to disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as phones and door handles. Educating children and others about the importance of hand hygiene and encouraging consistent practice is also vital. When asked about the best methods for hand hygiene—soap or sanitiser—Dr Hamad Al Mudahka explained that washing hands with soap and water is most appropriate when hands are visibly dirty or after using the restroom, as it effectively removes dirt and microbes. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser, containing at least 70 percent alcohol, is also highly effective in killing most germs and viruses and serves as a practical alternative when soap and water are not available. Dr Khalid Elawad, health protection manager, highlighted that hands are a primary vehicle for transmitting many infectious diseases, either directly—such as through handshakes—or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces like elevator buttons, shopping carts, money, and door handles. Studies indicate that hands are responsible for transmitting up to 80 percent of viruses and bacteria. Just one touch of a contaminated surface followed by contact with the face—mouth, nose, or eyes—can lead to infection. Dr Ahmed Hashem, IPAC Specialist at PHCC, emphasised that maintaining hand hygiene is not only an effective defence against the spread of serious infections, but also a simple action that can make a significant difference—particularly in healthcare settings, where patients are more vulnerable. Research indicates that enhancing hand hygiene practices can result in up to a 50 percent reduction in healthcare-associated infections. Through this campaign, PHCC aims to strengthen and embed hand hygiene habits, encouraging both the community and healthcare professionals to view infection prevention as a shared responsibility. Dr Ahmed Hashem noted that PHCC has launched a series of awareness activities to mark the occasion, including lectures and educational workshops on the importance of hand hygiene, the distribution of brochures and flyers to staff and visitors, and the installation of awareness booths in health centres featuring educational content for patients and visitors. PHCC reaffirmed that 'prevention begins with hand hygiene' and emphasised that this simple yet vital step represents the first line of defence against infection—a shared responsibility between healthcare professionals and the wider public.
