Press Release: Monday 05 May 2025
Minister for Health marks World Hand Hygiene Day
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, has today marked World Hand Hygiene Day, relaying Ireland’s support for this initiative. World Hand Hygiene Day is an international initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it forms part of their “SAVE LIVES: Clean your Hands” annual global campaign.
World Hand Hygiene Day 2025 promotes optimal hand hygiene practices and appropriate glove use with the theme, “It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene”. Practicing good hand hygiene is one of the most important and simple things that we can do to protect our health, and is one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread of many common infections. This year’s campaign also seeks to raise awareness of the environmental and climate impact of gloves on waste generation and management.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said:
“I would like to echo the WHO focus on cleaning our hands, at the right time and in the right way. In recent years the importance of hand hygiene has become more apparent to all. Clean hands mean better and safer care for patients and families, while protecting our healthcare workers from the spread of infections.”
Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna, added:
“Practicing good hand hygiene and using gloves appropriately are two of the most important measures that healthcare workers can take to protect everyone in all healthcare facilities. World hand hygiene day is a great reminder for us all that everyone – patients, visitors, clinical staff, and all healthcare workers – play an important part in reducing infections through clean hands ”
Dr Eimear Brannigan, HSE Clinical Lead for Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (AMRIC) explains,
“Good hand hygiene is the single most important and effective thing we can do to stop the spread of infection. Evidence tells us that by cleaning our hands properly, we can reduce the prevalence of healthcare associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to good hand hygiene, not just healthcare workers. World Hand Hygiene Day provides an opportunity to share information and resources, and ensure everyone understands how they can contribute to helping reduce the spread of infection in any healthcare setting or in their own homes.”
