It’s World Hand Hygiene Day, and health authorities are sending a strong message to health workers that gloves alone cannot protect against infections.
At a regional event held at the Ejisu Government Hospital, the Ghana Health Service emphasized the need for proper hand hygiene among health professionals.
Under the theme “It Might be Gloves; It’s Always Hand Hygiene”, this year’s World Hand Hygiene Day focused on a common but dangerous misconception that wearing gloves means safety.
Speaking at the Ejisu Government Hospital, the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) focal person, Jacqueline Victoria Ackah explained that the choice of this year’s theme stemmed from the neglect of handwashing in cases where gloves are used.
“Unfortunately, some have resorted to the use of gloves to replace the actual process of hand washing, hence the theme; It might be gloves but it’s always hand hygiene. Gloves are disposable and can easily become contaminated as well as bare hands because they do not offer 100% protection, especially when they are not changed in between procedures,” she said.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, clarified that gloves are not always necessary and should be used appropriately to reduce environmental waste and rising medical waste management costs.
The moment gloves are used, they become medical waste. Some 1,634 tonnes of disposed gloves were reported globally, many of which were disposed of inappropriately, contributing to global warming and sanitation issues,” added.
The Ghana Health Service is urging health workers to treat hand hygiene as a universal precaution that cannot be replaced.
Dr. Adomako Boateng also addressed the common complaints from health workers about lack of supplies, stating that logistics are available in most facilities, but compliance is the real issue.
“The challenges are not lack. The challenges are really compliance. My job is to communicate to ensure staff have what they need and use it correctly,” he stated.
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