“Accelerate action together” World Health Organization World Hand Hygiene Day, 5 May 2023: SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign

This year is 75 years of the World Health Organization and we still strive for health for all.

Hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when performed at the right moments during health care delivery. It is also a smart investment that offers exceptional return for each dollar invested. Clean care is a sign of respect to those who seek care, and it protects health and other workers who provide that care.   

Now is a critical time for countries across the world to accelerate implementation of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and increase investments to close gaps in infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene. Indeed, many countries are demonstrating strong engagement and advancements in scaling-up those actions, but overall, the progress is slow, and gains are at risk. 

Together, we can accelerate action on preventing infections and antimicrobial resistance in health care. Strong and engaged communities of health workers and leaders, policy makers and civil society organizations (CSOs) working on safer health care systems in many countries can make this happen. Together we can sustain action at the point of care to keep people, keep everyone, safe and healthy.  

For World Hand Hygiene Day 2023, we put CSOs in focus. Driven by their passion, values and strong social justice agendas, and in close proximity to the communities they serve, CSOs can spearhead accelerating action together at local, national and international levels.   

WHO is calling on all Infection Prevention and Control practitioners, health and care workers, policy makers and CSOs, alongside those who access care, to join this movement, invest in hand hygiene, lead the way and love the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene. Let’s continue to accelerate progress and achieve effective hand hygiene at point of care in pursuit of health for all.

Find all campaign assets here https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day/2023