Isolo General Hospital conducted a hand hygiene training session for its health workers on Tuesday, aligning with the observance of World Hand Hygiene Day 2026. The Medical Director, Dr Olugbenga Oseni, said the hospital has continued to train and retrain its staff, with a new session initiated through the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) unit. He highlighted the 2026 theme, "Action Saves Life," and stressed that hand hygiene remains vital in preventing the spread of infections, especially those transmitted through contact.
Oseni explained that proper handwashing, use of hand sanitiser, and wearing gloves serve as barriers against disease transmission. He noted that even infected individuals can reduce transmission risks through good hand hygiene, while caregivers who use gloves or masks correctly also limit infection spread. Long nails and poor hand care, he added, can harbour germs and increase contamination risks. The IPC committee monitors compliance, particularly among new staff, and ensures necessary supplies are available.
Dr Safiyyah Miftah, IPC Focal Person at IGH and a Consultant Family Physician, said hand hygiene is a high-impact, low-cost way to prevent communicable diseases. She observed that while awareness was high during disease outbreaks, it has since declined due to perceptions linking hand hygiene to poverty and illness. Dr Funmilola Showunmi, Consultant Paediatrician and Head of Pediatrics Department, IGH, educated staff on the five moments for hand hygiene and emphasized that glove use does not eliminate the need for handwashing.
Dr Olugbenga Oseni claims continuous training is ongoing at Isolo General Hospital, yet Dr Safiyyah Miftah admits awareness has dropped because people now associate hand hygiene with disease and poverty. The hospital insists compliance is monitored, but acknowledges new staff require constant re-education. If current efforts are effective, why must they repeatedly remind workers of basic practices? The repetition suggests the training may not be translating into lasting habits.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
