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World Hand Hygiene Day 2022: Theme And Objective

By Nishkak +2 more

About world hand hygiene day  

May 5 is observed as World Hand Hygiene Day which holds a lot of significance in present times as we find ourselves battling the COVID19 pandemic. This day is celebrated annually and it aims to spread the word and maintain global promotion, visibility and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care. This is not only about hand hygiene but also about coming together to have a healthy life, free of disease-causing germs and viruses.


World hand hygiene day 2022: Theme

The theme for World Hand Hygiene Day 2022 is a health care quality and safety climate or culture that values hand hygiene and infection prevention and control. The slogan is ”Unite for safety: clean your hands”. This theme has been decided to reinforce why hand hygiene is extremely important for a healthy life. It aims to get people of all levels to work together to influence the culture through clean hands, knowledge and appropriate behaviour.

Also Read: How To Clean Belly Button: Research-Based Guide for Proper Hygiene

Why you should not neglect hand hygiene? 

Throughout the day our hands may come in contact with several contaminated objects and surfaces, like the doorknob, work desk, washbasin, staircase railing and others, if you put this hand in your mouth or touch your nose, there is a high chance that you will fall ill and get an infection. To avoid such situations, hand hygiene is the key. Listed below are a few reasons why you must take hand hygiene seriously: 

1. When you maintain proper hand hygiene, you are less likely to catch a cold, influenza (including H1N1), chickenpox, mumps and other illnesses. 

2. Always washing your hands before cooking a meal or eating a meal ensures that you have fewer chances of food poisoning. It reduces the occurrence of diarrhoea and keeps you healthy.

3. Eye infections can be caused due to spread of germs. It is highly recommended to avoid touching your eyes with unclean hands.

4. Risk of worm infestations and infections like Hepatitis A can be minimised if you maintain proper hand hygiene regularly.

5. When you follow proper hand hygiene you are more protected from germs and will require fewer medicines, especially antibiotics that are required to cure an infection. 

6. Not only a healthy body, but good hand hygiene also promotes acne-free, healthy skin by reducing the transfer of bacteria from your hands to your face.

Theme for 2022 is a “health care quality and safety climate or culture” that values hand hygiene and IPC, and the slogan is “Unite for safety: clean your hands.”Together, we can accelerate action to prevent infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care and build a culture of safety and quality in which hand hygiene improvement is given high priority.”

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

The right way to wash your hands is by wetting your hands with clean running water. Apply soap to your hands, especially an anti-microbial soap, cover the entire hand, including fingernails and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry your hands using a clean towel. If you do not have access to soap and water, squeeze a few drops of hand sanitiser and rub your hands together until it dries. Make sure you use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Avoid touching your face or body parts if you have unclean hands and whenever you are in and around an unhygienic environment or if you visit a hospital, make it a habit to clean your hands frequently. Remember that even a handshake can spread germs and make you fall ill, so prevention is always better than cure.

Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching your children at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing—wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry—and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating to reduce the chances of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Conclusion

As we battle the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, people have begun to understand that hand hygiene can save lives and prevent the spread of harmful viruses and germs. World Hygiene Day is a day to spread awareness, provide knowledge to people and bring everyone together to discuss the role of hand hygiene in our daily lives. It is a simple, low-cost and effective way to protect your health.

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.

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