MoPH, partners host a slew of activities to mark World Hand Hygiene Day
THE Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), and the semi-governmental and private health sector, organised several important activities and events during the celebration of the World Hand Hygiene Day, which was celebrated this year under the slogan ‘Let’s accelerate the pace of work (together) save lives - clean your hands’.
The ministry organised a training workshop for health sector workers on the importance of hand hygiene at the Itqan Center for Innovation and Medical Simulation in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, in the presence of about 158 health workers, directors of health facilities, CEOs and health policy makers.
The workshop was presented by a number of specialists from the Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Al Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Center and Aster Medical Center, where they reviewed experiences and lessons learned from generalising hand washing practices during the provision of medical care to patients in health facilities during COVID-19 pandemic.
The infection control team at Al Wakra Hospital also gave an awareness presentation on wearing and removing personal protective equipment for medical personnel when providing health care to patients with Marburg fever virus.
Semi-governmental and private health facilities organised various awareness activities, including displaying and distributing educational brochures on the importance of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control to patients and visitors.
Guidance presentations were also provided in patient and visitor waiting areas and display screens. Educational plays about healthy habits and the importance of hand washing were also presented, in addition to the participation of the audience in a practical application of how to wash hands.
The Ministry of Public Health launched an extensive campaign in the health sector to celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day, which falls on May 5, with the aim of making progress in maintaining a global position on the importance of hand hygiene in health care, and bringing medical staff together to support improving hand hygiene.
Studies indicate that millions of people worldwide are infected while receiving health care every year, and this infection and the harm it causes to patients can be avoided by generalising proper hand hygiene practices in health facilities.