By Yussif Ibrahim
Juaben (Ash), May 6, GNA – Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, has underscored the critical role of proper hand hygiene in preventing infections and safeguarding public health, calling on all stakeholders to make it a daily priority.
He said hand hygiene remains one of the simplest, most effective, and affordable measures to prevent healthcare-associated infections, protect patients and health workers, and curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr Adomako-Boateng made the call at a ceremony held at Juaben in the Juaben Municipality to mark World Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated annually under the leadership of the World Health Organisation.
The 2026 celebration was on the theme: “Action Saves Lives,” emphasising the need for strengthened hand hygiene practices as a core component of infection prevention and patient safety.
He noted that in every health facility, from Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds to district and referral hospitals, clean hands are fundamental to delivering safe and quality healthcare.
“As a region, we have made progress in strengthening infection prevention and control systems,” he said, citing improved availability of clean water, soap, and alcohol-based hand rubs, continuous training of healthcare workers, monitoring of compliance, and intensified public education on proper handwashing.
Despite these gains, Dr Adomako-Boateng stressed that more needs to be done, urging that hand hygiene should not be treated as a periodic campaign activity but as a professional standard and personal responsibility.
He called on healthcare workers to strictly adhere to hand hygiene protocols at all times, while appealing to health facility managers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential materials.
He also urged development partners and stakeholders to continue supporting infection prevention initiatives and encouraged the media to amplify public education on proper handwashing practices.
The public, he said, must make handwashing with soap and water a routine part of daily life to help reduce the spread of infections within communities.
“When we clean our hands, we protect our patients, our families, our colleagues and ourselves,” he emphasised.
Dr Adomako-Boateng urged all to renew their commitment to hand hygiene, stressing that clean hands and timely action remain vital tools in saving lives and promoting healthier communities.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim