The Chairman of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) at the General Hospital, Ijede, Dr. Adeyemi Ogo-Oluwa, has called on the citizenry to embrace proper and constant hand washing to prevent contracting diseases and illnesses. Dr. Ogo-Oluwa made the call on Thursday during an event organised by the Hospital to commemorate the Year 2022 World Hand Hygiene Day, adding that hand hygiene is the act of removing soil, germs and microorganisms from the hands.
He explained that within all healthcare facilities there is an increased concentration of disease-causing germs, many of which are resistant to germ-killing antibiotics.
Research, according to him, has revealed that the hands, food or water contaminated by animal and human sewage account for 80% of all infections in society, including healthcare facilities. The Chairman averred that every health facility’s “Quality and Safety Climate or Culture” strongly depends on hand hygiene and Infection Prevention and Control measures (IPC), stressing that this results in visitors, patients and health workers being protected and adequately cared for. Dr. Adeyemi maintained that people need to believe and get involved in the practice of hand hygiene and Infection Prevention Control (IPC) to save lives by being team players in achieving the appropriate behaviours and attitudes.
While imploring health workers and the general public to unite in ensuring proper hand hygiene, the Physician noted that the COVID-19 infection has made it imperative for all and sundry to make it a collective responsibility.
His words: “We need to adopt a culture of safety and quality through cleaning our hands regularly and also encourage people to clean their hands at the right time and with the right products”.
Dr. Adeyemi submitted that the general public should adopt and cultivate a culture that ensures proper hand hygiene as it will go a long way in preventing diseases and saving lives in society.