By: Ugwuoke Felix & Ifebuche Okwuwulu.

The Chief Medical Director, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu, Prof. Obinna Onodugo has commended the organizers of this year’s WORLD HAND HYGIENE DAY CELEBRATION in the hospital.

This was during his opening remark as the host of the event, held at the Quadrangle of the hospital.
He said, “Today is a special day in the sense that we are talking about hand washing and coincidentally we commissioned transformer at water works that will supply us water for washing hands”.
He enjoined members of staff to extend hand washing to clinical areas, offices, wards, and their houses. Prof. Onodugo who earlier demonstrated the Hand Hygiene Procedure at the Main Theatre of the Hospital, promised that his Management will work hard to ensure regular water supply, so as to sustain hand washing practice in UNTH.

On his own part, the programme facilitator from Infection, Disease and Control Unit, UNTH, Dr. Kachi emphasized the importance of hand hygiene. According to him, ” Hand hygiene is simple and effective way of preventing infection, to help patients. Hand hygiene is very cheap and easy to practice. As a staff in a hospital, irrespective of your designation, you must wash your hands before and after attending to patients.” “Whether you are in clinical area, you must wash hands before and after attending to patients”. Continueing Kachi said that hand hygiene must be performed before and after being exposed to faeces, urine and saliva.

Highlights of the occasion include general demonstration of Hand Hygiene by members of Staff, group photograph and sensitization by the organizers.
Present at the event include, the CMD, CMAC, deputy CMACs, DA, some HODS and members of the clergy.