Statement from the WHO Director-General on World Hand Hygiene Day 2023 "Accelerate action together.".


Nobody should be harmed or die when receiving care. Yet every year, millions of people contract infections in health care facilities. The great tragedy is that most of these could be prevented. On World Hand Hygiene Day 2023, we call on civil society, governments, and health care institutions and workers to join the WHO SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign, to accelerate action and spur national and local investment in hand hygiene in health facilities.

Campaign theme: Together, we can accelerate action to prevent infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care and build a culture of safety and quality in which hand hygiene improvement is given high priority.



Campaign objectives:
  • Strengthen and empower communities of actors in health care to accelerate action to improve hand hygiene and infection prevention and control at point of care.
  • Foster collaboration and working together of people and organizations towards the common goal of minimizing the risk of infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance in health care.

This year's calls to action:
Health and care workers: Love the 5 moments.
IPC practitioners: Lead the way for clean hands.
Policy makers: Invest for health and dignity.
Those who access care: Join the movement.

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