By: Savannah Pokuaah Duah
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has joined the global health community to commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to infection prevention and control through proper hand hygiene practices.
This year’s theme, “It may be gloves, It’s always hand hygiene,” highlighted the importance of clean hands in safeguarding health and ensuring safe care delivery.
He stated that Ghana’s commemoration aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework for Infection Prevention and Control (2024-2030) and the country’s National IPC Strategy.
Minister Akandoh emphasized that gloves are essential in clinical settings but must never replace hand hygiene, calling for consistent practices from top-level administrators to frontline workers.
The Minister highlighted progress made under the IPC framework, including the establishment of a National IPC Committee, appointment of a national IPC focal person, and integration of hand hygiene indicators into the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2). By 2026, all regional and teaching hospitals will be required to monitor hand hygiene compliance and incorporate feedback into their quality improvement systems.
He stressed that hand hygiene education must extend beyond hospitals into homes, schools, and communities, creating a culture where everyone plays a role. He encouraged citizens to empower patients to ask, “Have you washed your hands?” and urged health leaders to lead by example.
A World Health Organisation representative noted that approximately 70% of healthcare workers do not routinely practice hand hygiene, and as little as 50% of surgical teams comply with hand hygiene best practices throughout a surgical patient’s hospital stay.
RELATED STORIES
World Hand Hygiene Day marked with renewed call for improved practices in health care
