LUSAKA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Friday urged citizens to make hand hygiene a habit, saying it is crucial to preventing disease.
Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo said during a press briefing ahead of World Hand Hygiene Day that hand hygiene is critical because 80 percent of all infections are transmitted by hands. "The practice of hand hygiene is one of the best ways to eliminate germs from our hands."
World Hand Hygiene Day falls on May 5, and the theme for this year is "Why is sharing knowledge about hand hygiene still so important?"
Masebo said sharing knowledge about hand hygiene is important as it stops the spread of harmful germs, and urged citizens to wash their hands before and after eating and after using the toilet.
The government, she said, has made positive strides in improving hand hygiene in the country's health facilities, with 100 percent of health facilities built since 2022 having boreholes and water networks to provide running water and flush toilets.
She further said about 80 percent of old health facilities without running water have been provided with running water and water-borne toilets, and plans are underway to connect the facilities with running water.
According to the minister, to promote hand hygiene, the government has developed standard operating procedures for health workers, with a focus on improving standards in health facilities, and has begun to establish robust mechanisms for building the capacity of health workers and community volunteers in hand hygiene. ■
