The event, held at the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences and Clinical Medicine Annex, served as a powerful call to action for staff, students, and healthcare providers to prioritize handwashing as a life-saving habit.
The Chief Medical Director, Professor Amechi Katchy, opened the celebration by emphasizing that hand hygiene is the most fundamental and effective tool in preventing the spread of diseases. Reflecting on this year’s theme, “Action Saves Lives,”Professor Katchy noted that the hospital’s primary mission remains the total elimination of healthcare-associated infections. He lauded the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) focal person, Sister Catherine Chukwu, for her tireless work in maintaining a sanitary environment and reaffirmed the management’s commitment to ongoing investment in hospital safety.
The Deputy Provost of the College of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Professor Marian Unachukwu, provided a professional perspective on the risks of negligence. She pointed out that environmental factors and poor hand hygiene are the leading causes of hospital-acquired contamination. To bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, she advocated for taking these awareness campaigns beyond the hospital walls and into primary and secondary schools to instill these habits in children from an early age.
Adding a state-level endorsement to the proceedings, the State IPC Coordinator, Dr. Nnamchi Kanayochukwu, commended GOUNITH for its proactive stance. He assured the hospital of the state’s continued support, particularly through specialized training opportunities for staff via the IPC platform. He reminded all healthcare workers that regular handwashing is not just a policy but a personal responsibility to reduce contamination within the medical environment.
The event reached its climax with a dual highlight: the presentation of an award to Professor Amechi Katchy for his role as a “Champion of Hygiene,” followed by an engaging practical demonstration.
Professor Marian Unachukwu led the participants through the proper techniques of handwashing, ensuring that everyone left with the practical skills necessary to save lives, one handwash at a time.
