The Department of Infection Prevention and Control at
King Abdulaziz Hospital - Al Ahsa celebrated the International Hand Hygiene Day through conducting a variety of programs and events.
Dr. Ahmad Al Arfaj, the Regional Executive Director of the Ministry of National Guard -Health Affairs in the Eastern Region pointed out: “we have applied the Hand Hygiene programs among employees and visitors in the hospital within a set of plans through which we achieved the desired objectives”.
NGHA celebrates this occasion for the 4th year consecutively in order to raise awareness about Hand Hygiene at work and in life in general. The program included awareness lectures along with announcing the results of Hand Hygiene screening amongst the hospital’s staff according to each department.
Furthermore, the events included six lectures about scientific evidence of Hand Hygiene as well as the phenomenon of low Hand Hygiene amongst doctors in the world.
Dr. Ayman Al Jammal, Head of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control, said that the events covered how to engage patients in reminding the medical staff to wash their hands by asking them if they have washed their hands or even refusing the check up if the doctor did not wash his/her hands.
He also pointed out that after reviewing the annual statistics report on who adhered to the hand hygiene system the most, Ward 7, NICU and Respiratory Therapy were on top of the list. This evaluation has been accomplished by observing and supervising health workers during the patients’ check up, and if the 5 steps guidelines were thoroughly followed.
Dr. Al Jammal added: “ Based on a monthly and an annual report, we submit our recommendations to the higher management”.
Adding: “The main objective of such events is to highlight the importance of Hand Hygiene as we are one of the World Health Organization’s collaborating centers”.