World Hand Hygiene Day-2014 Celebrates

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 05^th May:-- World Hand Hygiene Day-2014 was successfully celebrated today by Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, PGI both at Civil Dispensary and at schools in Sector-38 , Chandigarh. World Health Organization's (WHO) theme for the year 2014 is "Clean Care is Safer Care". This celebration was organized by Dr. Ravneet Kaur, Assistant Professor, Dr.Kathirvel.S, Senior Resident of Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health, PGI, Chandigarh.

This celebration was started with painting and slogan writing competition among school children of both at Government Model High School and Shri Guru Harkrishan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector-38-D on 1st and 2nd May, 2014 respectively. Dr. JS Thakur, Additional Professor (Community Medicine) and Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Assistant Professor (Environmental Health) were the chief guest for the celebration. They emphasized on the importance and the need for hand hygiene and its preventive effect on controlling infection and saving lives. Two trained (on hand hygiene) students each from these schools demonstrated in front of all students how to wash the hands and steps involved in maintaining hand hygiene. Students of both schools actively participated and practiced hand hygiene after demonstration. Children were shown short movies on hand hygiene (Both in English and Hindi) including hand hygiene dance. The celebration ended with prize distribution to the winners of painting and slogan writing competition.

As part of the celebration, all health workers of Civil Dispensary were given training by Dr. Kathirvel. S (Senior Resident) on hand hygiene including "WHO's 5 moments on Hand Hygiene" and types of hand washing to be practiced at outpatient care level. Mode and chain of transmission of infection and steps taken to break the chain by practicing hand hygiene was emphasized through short movies.  It was followed by practice of hand wash on the spot by all workers inside Civil Dispensary, Sector-38.