May 5 is observed as World Hand Hygiene Day to make people aware of how following proper hand hygiene everyday can help us maintain a safe and good quality of life. This day is especially crucial in present times as we battle the pandemic. Hand hygiene day is celebrated worldwide annually and aims to create more visibility and understanding. Your hands are exposed to a million germs daily. Good hand hygiene is important to ensure that these disease-causing germs and viruses are not entering our bodies. Globally, a large number of people still do not have access to basic hand washing facilities. This day is to come together, reach out to people, discuss the significance of hand hygiene, and find ways to make it a part of our daily lives.
World Hand Hygiene Day 2023
World Hand Hygiene Day 2023 theme focuses on health care quality and safety culture that gives priority to hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC). It reinforces that the healthcare industry must ensure that both patients and health care workers are protected and cared for.
Hand Hygiene During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic made people take hand hygiene seriously. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing your hands frequently can significantly prevent the spread of the new coronavirus which causes COVID-19. People who do not have access to hand washing facilities are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. Washing hands and maintaining proper hand hygiene can save lives and ensure a healthier future for all.
What Happens When Hand Hygiene is Not Maintained?
Without maintaining hand hygiene, you are more prone to having diseases. Here are a few things that might happen when you put off hand hygiene:
1. You will be more prone to catching colds. When we touch the door knob on a daily basis, staircase railing, and then touch our face or nose, we are more likely to get infected.
2. You may get or spread food poisoning because a large percentage of food-borne diseases are caused due to preparing or eating food with contaminated hands.
3. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an eye infection that you may get due to spread of germs. It is highly contagious and is common among school-going kids.The typical symptoms include redness, itchiness, and pus in the eyes.
4. Not washing your hands can also lead to hepatitis A, a serious liver virus infection.
5. Diarrhoea will occur frequently when you stop washing your hands regularly, especially before eating your meals.
6. When the number of infections are reduced due to more people following hand hygiene, it can prevent the overuse/irrational use of antibiotics. Maintaining hand hygiene can prevent people from getting sick with antibiotics-resistant germs.
7. Good hand hygiene will promote healthy skin, reduce acne caused due to bacteria transfer from your hands to your face.
8. You will be more likely to have a dust allergy if you don’t adopt the habit of regularly washing your hands after touching any surface or object.
Germs are present in every nook and corner, responsible for spreading all sorts of diseases. They are not visible to naked eyes but by getting into the habit of washing your hands regularly, you will enjoy a more germ-free, healthy life.
How to Wash Your Hands in the Right Way?
A guide to proper hand washing steps endorsed by the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO):
- Wet your hands with clean running water.
- Apply soap to your hands, wrists, including fingernails.
- Lather and rub your hands together thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands with water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or let them air-dry.
Conclusion
Proper hand washing is particularly important if you are in high-risk situations where you may acquire or transmit germs. If you don’t have soap and water available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Hand hygiene is a simple, low-cost way to protect your health. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and community leaders worldwide are constantly working to improve public hygiene practices. Take this World Hygiene Day as a reminder that good hand hygiene must be practised consistently as it has significantly lowered the rates of certain respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Frequently Asked Questions About World Hand Hygiene Day
Q2. Who is known as the father of hand hygiene?
Ignac Semmelweis, one of the clinical investigators working from the earlier times, is the father of hand hygiene.
Q3. When did World Hand Hygiene Day start?
World Hand Hygiene Day was established in 2009 as part of a WHO campaign to promote hand hygiene and support health care workers.
