By Joke Kujenya
ONE IN every ten patients acquires an infection during healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautions.
This has informed a stark reminder that even the simplest measures can carry life-saving weight.
On World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) May 5, health professionals and patients alike are being urged to return to basics—by cleaning their hands.
Hand hygiene, the health organisation stresses, is one of the most effective ways to halt the spread of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), preventing up to 50% of avoidable cases.
The impact is not trivial: poor hygiene leads to longer hospital stays, inflated treatment costs, and in many cases, avoidable loss of life.
Survivors Speak Out on Hospital Infection Battles
Looking frail, Daniella Agwu told JKNewsMedia that she was only meant to be in hospital for a short recovery after gallbladder surgery.
Instead, she left three weeks later, severely weakened, carrying an infection she never expected to fight.
“I had walked in for a simple diagnosis. I came out barely able to stand,” said the 38-year-old schoolteacher from a remote area in Delta State. The news given me by the doctor got me weakened from within in an instant.
“I had no idea I was at risk of catching something so serious just by being in hospital.”
Daniella developed a Klebsiella infection. It is an aggressive bacteria that often spread in healthcare settings through contact—especially when hygiene lapses occur.
She said her doctors traced it to a contaminated catheter. Long story short, she spent 12 days in isolation, on strong intravenous antibiotics, suffering from fever, nausea, and pain that far eclipsed her post-surgery recovery.
“I kept asking—how did this happen? Her doctors said it was likely from improper hand hygiene during handling,” she recalled.
“I am not trying to implicate anyone, but I could still remember the nurse not sanitising before changing my IV. At the time, I didn’t know to question it. Today, this is where it has gotten me.” she said solemnly.
For Nasir (last name withheld), 32, a Lagos-based logistics manager, the cost was even steeper.
After being admitted for a minor foot fracture, he contracted Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) —an antibiotic-resistant superbug that led to a bone infection.
His routine hospital visit turned into a six-month ordeal, involving multiple surgeries, aggressive treatments, and time off work.
“It started with a fever, then pain in my leg that felt like it was on fire,” he said. “When the cultures came back, I was stunned. I’d never heard of hospital-acquired infections before.”
Doctors later explained to me the likely cause: contaminated hands during dressing changes.
Nasir said he believes he may have noticed rushed, unsanitised care, but never thought to speak up. Now, with permanent damage to his mobility, he’s adamant about raising awareness, as he told JKNewsMedia with a note of finalty in his voice.
“Clean hands would have saved me all this. We trust our caregivers—but now I know, we also need to hold them accountable.”
Clean Hands, Safe Care: Infection Prevention Hinges on Hygiene
According to WHO, about one in ten patients worldwide suffers from healthcare-associated infections—many of which are preventable through proper hand hygiene.
Campaigners are using World Hand Hygiene Day to emphasize this point, urging both healthcare providers and patients to commit to clean care.
Washing hands with soap and water, using alcohol-based rubs, and sanitising before and after contact with patients or equipment can reduce infection risk by half.
Yet, studies continue to show poor compliance in many hospitals, often due to staff shortages or lack of awareness.
WHO said the recommended practices are clear —washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds remains the gold standard.
“Where water is unavailable, alcohol-based hand rubs offer a strong alternative. Gloves do not negate the need for clean hands—proper hand hygiene is essential before and after glove use. Everyday acts, such as washing hands before meals and after using the toilet, can make a critical difference,” the organization advises.
Across the world, hospitals continue to battle infection risks, WHO said.
The global healthcare community is now calling on everyone—patients, visitors, and staff—to recognise hand hygiene as a shared responsibility.
“Everyone has the right to safe care,” say campaigners. The message is simple but urgent: stay informed, stay vigilant, and speak up for clean hands.
More hygiene advice and infection prevention tips are available via the World Hand Hygiene Day resource hub.
