Good hand hygiene saves lives, the World Health Organisation says on Hand Hygiene Day, 5 May,

“This action, that takes just a few seconds, does save lives!”

“This is a serious challenge at any time, but COVID-19 has dramatically demonstrated just how important good hand hygiene practices are in reducing the risk of transmission, when used as part of a comprehensive package of preventative measures.

“Good hand hygiene is also vital in preventing any infections acquired in health care, the spread of antimicrobial resistance and other emerging health threats.

“Infection acquired during health care delivery is a major global health problem, but patients in low- and middle-income countries are twice as likely to experience this as patients in high-income countries.”

In the “Year of the Health and Care worker” WHO urged health care workers’ compliance with hand hygiene practices.

Follow the 6 steps of Handwashing

To effectively prevent the spread of germs, the way you wash your hands is just as important as the frequency of doing so. When washing your hands, you should not only scrub your palms, but also the areas in between the fingers and the backs of the hands. The following 6 steps are a best-practice guide to ensure that you clean your hands properly and thoroughly.