By Vasty Bala Jonah, Gombe
The State Specialist Hospital Gombe has commemorated this year’s World Hand Hygiene Day with a urgent call for healthcare workers, patients, and their relatives to embrace regular hand washing to prevent the spread of life-threatening infections.
The event, held Wednesday at the hospital’s conference hall, brought together doctors, nurses, and officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gombe State Ministry of Health to address the critical role of sanitation in clinical settings.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Sambo Dawa, described hand hygiene as a simple but powerful public health action capable of protecting both patients and staff.
He noted that many patients end up spending extended periods in the hospital battling secondary infections acquired within the facility due to poor hygiene practices.
“Hand washing is cheaper than treating infections with antibiotics and other medications,” Dr. Dawa said, stressing that “healthcare workers must ensure the hands trained to heal patients are not used to harm them through negligence.”
Technical experts at the event reinforced the clinical necessity of the campaign. Mohammed Sadiq, an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) focal person from the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, presented a paper stating that according to the WHO, proper hand hygiene can prevent more than 80 percent of infectious disease transmission.
To sustain these standards, the hospital’s IPC Focal Person, John Solomon, announced that management would conduct regular audits across wards and clinics to monitor compliance.
He revealed that healthcare workers who consistently observe proper protocols would be recognized as “Hand Hygiene Champions.”
The commemoration, held under the theme “Safer Care Starts with Clean Hands,” also reached out to the general public. Mr. Solomon emphasized that hand hygiene should not be limited to medical staff, urging visitors to wash their hands after using the toilet and before caring for sick relatives.
Representing the Hospital Services Management Board, Alhaji Yawale urged staff to remain committed to washing hands before and after every medical procedure to reduce the burden of difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired infections.
Idris Muhammed Atiku, representing the Ministry of Health, appealed to development partners for continued support in providing hygiene materials.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Dawa expressed gratitude to the WHO and the Clinton Health Access Initiative for their partnership in promoting infection prevention and control within the state.
The event concluded with the unveiling of hand sanitizers produced by the hospital for internal use.