World Hand Hygiene Day

5 May 2025 Reading time: 1 min (540 words) 

Message by Syed Saiful Islam, Chairman,DeGermo.

World Hand Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 5th, is a global campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare and everyday life. The initiative is part of WHO’s broader efforts to combat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Theme and Objective

Each year, the campaign focuses on a specific theme aimed at encouraging healthcare workers, policymakers, and the general public to recognize the critical role hand hygiene plays in preventing infections. The 2024 theme, for example, was “Clean Hands Are Within Reach”, emphasizing that effective hand hygiene is achievable for everyone, everywhere.

The main objectives of World Hand Hygiene Day include:

• Raising awareness about the importance of proper hand hygiene.

• Promoting sustainable practices in healthcare settings.

• Engaging leaders to improve policies and resources for infection prevention.

• Empowering individuals to take responsibility for their own hand hygiene.

Why Hand Hygiene Matters

Hand hygiene is one of the simplest, yet most effective, actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections. This is particularly vital in hospitals and clinics, where vulnerable patients are at a higher risk of contracting infections.

Poor hand hygiene is a significant contributor to:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

• The spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms

• Increased morbidity and mortality

• Higher healthcare costs

Recommended Practices

The WHO promotes the “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene” in clinical settings:

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

For the general public, regular handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially:

• Before eating or preparing food

• After using the toilet

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

• After touching commonly used surfaces in public spaces

Countries, health organizations, schools, and communities around the world participate in this campaign through awareness drives, workshops, public demonstrations, and media outreach. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the crucial role of hand hygiene in disease prevention, making this annual event more relevant than ever.

DeGermo is continuously ensures it well to all the connected and served people by reminder sms every time.