By 2026, hand hygiene compliance monitoring and feedback should be established as a key national indicator, at the very least in all reference hospitals. Currently 68% of countries report they are doing this. World Hand Hygiene Day in 2025 coincides with the need for countries to rapidly consider implementation of the global action plan and monitoring framework on infection prevention and control (IPC) – supported by a guide to implementation – and the need to continue to improve IPC as demonstrated in the latest WHO IPC global report.
Additionally, the WHO Framework for Action 2024-2030 focused on WASH, waste and electricity services highlights the need for universal safe access to ensure quality of care (linked to climate and health), including by integrating WASH and waste requirements into health system planning, programming, financing, implementation and monitoring, which can in part be supported by IPC efforts.
Therefore, it is recognised that at this time countries and health care facilities should continue to highly prioritize optimal hand hygiene practices (using the appropriate technique and according to the WHO 5 Moments) alongside appropriate glove use, including through greater awareness and supported by IPC practitioners as part of an IPC team and programme.
Objectives
To highlight the IPC situation globally including the need for investment cases, and the impact of optimal hand hygiene practices (using the appropriate technique and according to the WHO 5 Moments)
To highlight the need for on-going promotion of appropriate glove use, alongside hand hygiene action.
To raise awareness of the environmental and climate impact of gloves on waste generation and management.
To outline the role of hand hygiene within national IPC strategies, as well as standard operating procedures (SOPs) at facility level, according to the recommendations of the WHO global action plan and monitoring framework 2024-2030 and highlight a new WHO guide to implementation.
To showcase how World Hand Hygiene Day plays a role in bringing people together and raising the profile of IPC improvement as one part of IPC national and health facility programmes.
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