Press release
Minister for Health marks World Hand Hygiene Day 2023
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has today marked World Hand Hygiene Day. Ireland supports this international initiative, led by the World Health Organization (WHO). The theme of this year’s global initiative is “Accelerate action together SAVE LIVES - 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.
Cleaning hands regularly is one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread of many common infections, including COVID-19. Regular, correct hand hygiene is one of the most important and simple things that we can do to protect our health, the health of our families and patients.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organisation (WHO). In October 2005, the WHO and its partners launched the first Global Patient Safety Challenge with the theme “Clean Care is Safer Care” with the WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Healthcare available.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:
"I would like to echo the WHO focus on cleaning our hands. In recent years we have all become aware of the importance of hand hygiene. Clean hands lead not just to better care for patients and families, it also protects health and social care workers."
Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna added:
"Today on World Hand Hygiene Day, I would like to encourage everyone, staff, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings to practice effective hand hygiene often to ensure we protect ourselves and others. Washing your hands regularly is the single most effective way of stopping the spread of many infections."
Dr. Eimear Brannigan, HSE Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Team stated:
"We know that people tend to go back to their old habits when a crisis starts to get better, so it is vitally important that we all understand that hand hygiene is not just for COVID-19, it’s for life. We need to get back to basics and I want to encourage people to continue to clean their hands. Having sanitiser and access to hand washing facilities will make it easier for everyone to maintain their good hand hygiene habits."
Further information on World Hand Hygiene Day: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day/2023
Further information on AMR and Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025: www.gov.ie/amr
Further information on WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030.
HCAIs are infections that develop either as a direct result of healthcare interventions such as medical or surgical treatment, or from being contact with a healthcare setting. Many HCAIs are preventable. A healthcare system has a duty to prevent HCAIs to the greatest practical extent.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is a strategic objective of Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 which was published in November 2021. IPC is a key enabler to delivery of safe health and social care, including prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs). It is also recognised as an area of focus in the WHO Global Patient Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Ireland takes an evidence-based approach to IPC practices and work is underway on a National Clinical Guideline to support best practice in this area.