Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health on May 10 launchedan action month in response to World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5).
The launch ceremony, which was livestreamed on the ministry’sFacebook fanpage “Suc Khoe Viet Nam”, aimed to raise public awareness about thesignificance of hand washing and contribute to encouraging people to follow theministry’s “5K” message - khau trang (face masks), khu khuan (disinfection),khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings) and khai bao y te(health declarations).
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health DoXuan Tuyen said that amid the complex developments of COVID-19 and the appearanceof many variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that are stronger and can spreadfaster, the strengthening of communications to improve awareness about keeping handsclean is significant, not only among medical staff but also the community.
Tuyen called on healthcare workers around the country to spread images of handwashingso they act as a mirror for others to do likewise and also strictly implementthe “5K” message.
On the occasion, the Ministry of Health launched an online photo conteston handwashing among medical workers. Running until May 30, winners will receivecash awards of up to 80 million VND.
According to the World Health Organisation, each year about16 million people die and hundreds of others are affected by infectionsacquired during the health care process. More than half of these cases could beprevented if medical staff were to wash their hands properly, which is asimple, effective, and cheap preventive solution.
Launched in 2019, World Hand Hygiene Day has improved medical staff’s awarenessabout the significance of washing their hands for public health and theprevention of hospital infections./.
VNA