Niël Terblanché
An earnest call for clean hands to remain at the core of healthcare delivery in Namibia was made as the country joined the world in commemorating World Hand Hygiene Day on Thursday.
The event took place with the theme “It Might Be Gloves.” It’s Always Hand Hygiene”. The occasion served as a gathering point for health professionals, development partners, and government officials to reaffirm their commitment to infection prevention and patient safety.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, while addressing the gathering, described hand hygiene as more than a routine procedure but a tangible demonstration of care, professionalism, and accountability.
She said the use of gloves should never be a substitute for hand hygiene, adding that even with glove use, hand hygiene remains critical both before and after contact.
Luvindao also launched several key strategic documents, including the National Clinical and Death Audit Guidelines, the Standard Operating Procedure for Patient Experience and Satisfaction Assessment, and the Paediatric Clinical Care Booklets at the event.
“These tools will drive continuous improvement in patient care and safety by enabling systematic reviews, patient feedback, and standardised paediatric treatment, she said.
According to Luvindao, Namibia’s hand hygiene compliance rate stands at 74%, which shows only partial compliance with international standards.
“We must not become complacent. We are committed to improving performance and institutionalising hand hygiene as a cornerstone of health service delivery,” she said.
She also reflected on lessons from the hepatitis E outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, where hand hygiene, supported by public campaigns and improved infrastructure, played a key role in curbing transmission.
Luvindao, however, cautioned that improper glove use during the pandemic contributed not only to infection risk but also to environmental degradation.
“Nearly 3 billion units of PPE were distributed worldwide between February and August 2020, generating over 600 tonnes of healthcare waste daily. Gloves accounted for the largest share,” she said.
The minister added that the future of health care in Namibia, and globally, depends on the ability of people to uphold the most basic, yet most powerful, practices.
“Let us work together to ensure that clean care truly is in our hands,” she urged.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) country representative, Dr. Richard Banda, echoed the need for stronger infection prevention systems.
“Globally, 10 out of every 100 patients in low- and middle-income countries acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection, often resulting in severe consequences,” he warned.
Banda called on countries to integrate hand hygiene into national infection prevention strategies and to make compliance a performance benchmark in all reference hospitals by 2026.
“Building a safer health system begins with clean hands,” he said.
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Samuel Kweku Ocran, shared findings from a joint 2023 assessment of WASH and IPC services in 21 health facilities providing maternal and neonatal care.
“None of the facilities met WHO/UNICEF global standards. Gaps ranged from limited access to clean water and sanitation to poor maintenance and lack of essential hygiene supplies,” he said.
He added that in response, UNICEF pledged to support the refurbishment of six maternity and paediatric wards across the Zambezi, Kavango West, Kavango East, Ohangwena, and Kunene regions.
According to Ocran, the initiative aims to improve infrastructure and equip staff to deliver safer care.
“Hand hygiene is not just about washing hands. It is about building systems that protect life,” he said.
The commemoration brought together government leaders, healthcare professionals, and development partners, including the Government of Japan, WHO, UNICEF, and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The delegates reinforced the view that clean care begins with clean hands, not only in hospitals but also in schools, churches, markets, and homes.
