Mater celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day

Released: 09/05/2016

World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on 5 May—to align with the Five Moments for Hand Hygiene. Each year, the World Health Organisation makes a call to action to improve hand hygiene in healthcare and in 2016, the focus of the ‘SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands’ campaign is on improving hand hygiene practices from surgical wards and operating theatres through to outpatient surgical services.

To help celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day, activities were held across the South Brisbane, Redlands and Springfield campuses to raise awareness about safe hand hygiene practices with staff, patients and visitors.  

A number of fun games and activities were enjoyed, including visits to hospitals by Mater’s own SafeQuest superheros, Hand Hygiene Man and Woman.  A Hygienic Hands colouring in competition was also held with Mater People and their families, Mater Childcare and Mater patients participating in the fun.

As a part of the Exceptional Every Time strategy, Mater recognises safety as being the organisations single most important priority, with every decision being made and every action taken by Mater People, having safety as its guiding principle.

Five Key Hand Hygiene Moments:
1. Before touching the patient
2. Before a procedure
3. After a procedure or body fluid exposure risk
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching a patient’s surroundings.

Help us to create a safer Mater community by cleaning your hands at the right times and in the right way.

For further information on hand hygiene at Mater, go to the Infection Control and Prevention section.