It’s World Hand Hygiene Day – Here’s Why It Matters

World Hand Hygiene Day, observed each May 5, promotes global awareness of proper hand‑washing to prevent infections and save lives, the World Health Organization states. The 2025 campaign emphasizes monitoring and feedback systems in healthcare settings to boost compliance and reduce hospital‑acquired infections. Despite progress, WHO reports that only 60% of healthcare workers consistently follow hand hygiene protocols during patient care. The organization calls on governments and institutions to implement real‑time compliance monitoring and regular staff training. Effective hand hygiene could prevent one in six episodes of healthcare‑associated infections globally, according to WHO research World Health Organization (WHO).