The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, is participating in the World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 campaign, held for the eighteenth year under the global initiative “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands.” The campaign aims to reinforce hand hygiene as a fundamental measure to reduce healthcare-associated infections, enhance patient safety, and improve service quality, given its direct impact on limiting the spread of germs within healthcare facilities and the community.

Among the key objectives of this year’s campaign are strengthening adherence to the World Health Organization’s “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene” within healthcare settings, integrating hand hygiene into policies, operational procedures, and monitoring indicators at the facility level, and promoting a sustainable culture of infection prevention through training, monitoring, feedback, and supportive environments.

Dr. Hamad Al Mudahka, Executive Director of Preventive Health at PHCC, emphasized that hands are a major vehicle for transmitting many disease-causing microbes, making hand hygiene a cornerstone of prevention within health centers. He added that infections may spread through direct contact or contaminated surfaces; therefore, proper hand cleaning significantly reduces disease transmission and protects patients and visitors.

Transmission Through Hands

We can protect ourselves and others from infection by following simple practices, most importantly: washing hands regularly, especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and after coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching the face before cleaning hands; using tissues when coughing or sneezing and disposing of them properly; and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as phones and door handles.

Soap or Sanitizer?

Washing hands with soap and water is the preferred option when hands are visibly dirty or after using the restroom. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol) is an effective and practical alternative when soap and water are not available.

Dr. Khalid Elawad, Manager of Health Protection at PHCC, noted that hands are a key means of transmitting many infectious diseases, whether through direct contact or via contaminated surfaces and tools in public places. He added that even a single touch of a contaminated surface followed by touching the face may be enough to cause infection, highlighting the importance of proper and regular hand hygiene.

Reducing Infection Rates

Dr. Ahmed Hashem, IPAC Specialist at PHCC, stated that hand hygiene is a simple and easy practice, yet it makes a significant difference in reducing infections within healthcare facilities. He confirmed that improving compliance could reduce healthcare-associated infections by up to 50%.

Through this campaign, PHCC aims to strengthen and sustain hand hygiene practices and motivate the community and healthcare workers to reduce healthcare-associated infection rates, as this is a shared responsibility.

The Corporation is committed to promoting a culture of hand hygiene through:

• Providing alcohol-based hand sanitizers across facilities.
• Training healthcare workers on the “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene.”
• Ensuring continuous awareness and availability of sanitizers within clinics.

Awareness Activities and Events

Activities marking World Hand Hygiene Day include educational lectures and workshops on the importance of hand hygiene, distribution of brochures and awareness materials to staff and visitors, and the establishment of awareness booths in health centers featuring educational content. Surveys are also conducted to measure visitors’ awareness levels and satisfaction.

PHCC emphasizes that hand hygiene is not merely a routine practice, but a first line of defense that protects patients, visitors, and healthcare workers alike. The Corporation calls on all members of the community to make handwashing a consistent daily habit at home, school, and work—because with a simple step, we can prevent many infections and create safer healthcare together.