To reaffirm shared dedication to the SAVE LIVES: Clear Your Palms marketing campaign and lift consciousness about hand hygiene in healthcare settings, Namibia commemorated the World Hand Hygiene Day at Windhoek Central Hospital on 08 Could 2025. The occasion served as a reminder of the significance of decreasing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and combating antimicrobial resistance by way of the An infection Prevention and Management (IPC) programme.
The day was noticed underneath the theme: It Would possibly Be Gloves. It’s At all times Hand Hygiene, a robust reminder that whereas gloves can present a protecting barrier, they need to by no means change correct hand hygiene.
The Minister of Well being and Social Providers, Dr. Esperance Luvindao highlighted that the occasion shouldn’t be solely a celebration but in addition a name to motion. “Correct hand hygiene, when practiced persistently and accurately, represents greater than compliance; it protects our sufferers, our front-line employees, and our broader communities,” she said. The Minister additional emphasised that hand hygiene stays crucial each earlier than and after glove use.
Healthcare-associated infections proceed to threaten affected person security, with 1 out of each 10 sufferers in low- and middle-income nations purchase not less than one HAI globally.
Dr. Richard Banda, WHO Consultant to Namibia, highlighted that over 24% of sufferers with sepsis from HAIs, and greater than half of these handled in intensive care items, die annually. “These figures spotlight the pressing want for efficient an infection prevention and management, with hand hygiene on the centre,” he emphasised. He additional urged Namibia to combine hand hygiene into nationwide IPC methods and facility-level customary working procedures. He additionally harassed the necessity to educate healthcare employees on acceptable glove use, reinforcing that gloves mustn’t ever change hand hygiene in healthcare settings.
As well as, the UNICEF Consultant to Namibia, Mr. Samuel Ocran, recommended the MoHSS for its dedication to assessing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) circumstances and implementing An infection Prevention and Management (IPC) tips in 21 well being services offering maternal and neonatal care. He additional introduced UNICEF’s help for the refurbishment of six maternity and neonatal wards in 6 areas will improve WASH infrastructure and guarantee high quality care.
The occasion additionally launched three nationwide paperwork, developed with the help of the Authorities of Japan particularly, the Medical and Demise Audit Tips, the Commonplace Working Process for Assessing Affected person Expertise, and the Paediatric Care Booklets.
“The Authorities of Japan stays dedicated to advancing high quality and secure healthcare companies for all, with explicit consideration to the wants of susceptible and underserved populations,” mentioned His Excellency Shinichi Asazuma, Ambassador of Japan to Namibia. “By supporting initiatives that strengthen well being methods, improve service requirements, and promote affected person security, Japan contributes to constructing resilient healthcare methods that ship efficient, dignified, and equitable care,” he added.