Maria David
MINISTER of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao said Namibia has made notable progress with regard to hand hygiene.
Luvindao made the remarks during World Hand Hygiene Day and the official launch of the clinical and death audit guidelines as the standard operating procedure for assessing patients’ experience and the handover of the pediatric care booklets held on Thursday.
This global observance, under the auspices of the World Health Organization’s campaign SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands, marks seventeen years of unified global advocacy to elevate hand hygiene as a pillar of safe, quality healthcare.
VIDEO: The Ministry of Health and Social Services commemorates World Hand Hygiene Day. Video: Ministry of Health and Social Services-Namibia
According to Luvindao, the national average hand hygiene compliance currently stands at 74%.
“Thus, we are partially compliant. However, we must not become complacent. The Ministry of Health and Social Services remains committed to improving performance and institutionalizing hand hygiene as a cornerstone of health service delivery,” she said.
She added that while their focus often centers on clinical settings, the fundamental role of hand hygiene in community environments cannot be overstated.
Luvindao said in schools, markets, churches, and households, clean hands serve as a vital barrier against the transmission of numerous illnesses.
She added that community-led handwashing stations, coupled with robust public education campaigns, have demonstrated the profound impact of simple soap and water in curbing the spread of diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, and beyond.
She stressed that by empowering every child and adult in Namibia to prioritize handwashing at critical times, they fortify the resilience of their society.
Further, the Minister indicated that Namibia’s recent experience with a severe hepatitis E outbreak underscores the power of community-focused hygiene interventions.
“Through the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, local NGOs, and community leaders, intensified Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives were implemented,” she added.
She explained that the strategic placement of handwashing facilities, combined with targeted education on safe water handling and sanitation practices, led to a dramatic reduction in transmission rates.
According to the World Health Organization, between February and August 2020, nearly 3 billion units of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were distributed worldwide, generating over 600 tons of healthcare waste daily, with gloves constituting the largest proportion.
Notably, a significant number of these gloves were used by non-medical personnel, driven by widespread fear of contracting the virus. In many instances, these individuals wore gloves unnecessarily, without proper indications or adherence to hygiene practices, mistakenly believing it would offer protection.
