10th May, 2019 The CEO and the staff of the Ministry of Health commemorated World Hand Hygiene Day yesterday at Vaiola Hospital’s Multipurpose Hall.
CEO for Health Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said that infection, prevention and control are basic choices. He told health staff that hand hygiene is not difficult because they only need to go with a soap to clean tap water and wash their hands.
“It should be a habit. The interesting thing about this procedure is it has impacts far wider than just the simple process of washing your hands. It is safer for the patient if we keep washing our hands all the time and you’re moving from patient to patient, you won’t transmit any infection and patient’s safety improves.”
He said that “washing hands improve the quality of health services. It prevents the outbreak of typhoid and other infections.”
Dr ‘Akau’ola also urged the staff to be “role models” in order for the communities to follow their lead.
Technical Officer and Officer in Charge of the WHO Country Liaison Office for the Kingdom of Tonga Dr Yutaro Setoya said that, “Keeping hands clean is one of the most important prevention measures to keep people healthier. Washing hands prevent illnesses and spread of infections to others.”
According to Dr Setoya germs such as Salmonella, E coli, Noro and adeno virus are spread because of not washing hands with soap and clean running water.
“These kind of germs can get onto hands after people use the toilet or change a diaper, or touching a surface contaminated by cough or sneeze.”
He told the health staff to also educate patients and their families on hand hygiene.
“Teaching people about hand washing helps them and their families and communities stay health. Hand washing education in the community reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea and colds and other respiratory diseases.”
World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated on May 5 every year.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.