By Sharon Atieno
Though frequent hand washing is one of the preventive measures in curbing the spread of COVID-19, significant obstacles remain in maintaining the practice.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2019, half the health-care facilities in sub-Saharan Africa did not have basic water services. Water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub were available in 84% of hospitals compared to 69% of clinics and other facilities.
Overall only half the health-care facilities in sub-Saharan Africa had alcohol-based hand rub at points of care.
In communities across Africa, WHO and UNICEF estimate that fewer than one in three households have a handwashing facility with soap and water.
Marking hand hygiene day celebrated annually on 5 May, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said: “It is vital that structural and financial barriers are overcome, so that more people can systematically wash their hands at critical times.”
Dr. Moeti noted that public-private partnerships and investments will be crucial to expand and maintain infrastructure for safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
“Significantly more financial resources are required in most African countries to achieve universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2030,” she said.
“Research is also needed on the socio-economic burden of healthcare-associated infections in African countries.”
Dr. Moeti urged governments and partners to further invest in expanding access to safe water and sanitation; and called on everyone to remember “seconds save lives – clean your hands” to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases.
Being that hand hygiene is an integral part of patient safety and the provision of quality care, this year’s theme is “achieving hand hygiene at the point of care” where patients, health workers and treatment come together.
Globally, at least 500,000 people get hospital-related infections daily. Out of these, 20,000 to 50,000 die.
According to the CleanHandsSaveLives campaign, disinfecting hands with a hydroalcoholic solution halves the number of infections, and thus the number of victims.
