Minister for Health Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has called on all and sundry to make hand washing a priority.
According to the Minister Clean hands remain the bedrock of infection prevention and control (IPC), adding that consistent practice is essential for all especially —from top administrators to frontline staff.
Minister for Health Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Hon. Mintah Akandoh made the call in Accra during a Commemoration of the 2025 World Hygiene Day under the theme : “It might be gloves its always hand hygiene”.
“If we are to build a resilient, equitable, and people-centred health system, hygiene must serve as its unshakable foundation. The health, safety, and dignity of every Ghanaian hinge upon the actions we take—or fail to take—on hygiene. Let us pledge today to make clean hands not merely a symbolic gesture, but a daily, unwavering practice”, the MP for Juaboso emphasized.
He added “let the theme “It must be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene” inspire our policies, guide our practices, and strengthen our collective resolve”.
Let us save lives—clean your hands.
Thank you, and may God bless us all.
The Minister explained that this year’s commemoration carries particular resonance as it aligns with the WHO’s Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework for IPC (2024–2030) and our Ghana’s National Infection Prevention and Control Strategy, developed in close collaboration with the WHO.
He said it complements the National Health Policy, the National Healthcare Quality Strategy, the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Roadmap, and the National Strategy for WASH in Healthcare Facilities—demonstrating our shared commitment to advancing health security.
Hon. Akandoh revealed that the Ministry has already achieved significant milestones, including:
• Establishment of a National IPC Committee, convening quarterly to oversee progress,
• Appointment of a national IPC focal person to coordinate activities nationwide,
• Integration of hand hygiene indicators into the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2).
He however, noted that the Ministry is fully aware of persistent challenges—ranging from inadequate infrastructure, glove misuse, and limited supervision to inconsistent supply chains for essential hygiene materials and environmental concerns linked to medical waste.
To confront these issues head-on, the Minister said the Ministry is committed to:
• Ensuring sustainable hand hygiene infrastructure across all public health facilities,
• Promoting waste management systems aligned with environmental sustainability principles,
• Strengthening supervision, monitoring, and integration of IPC indicators into institutional performance assessments,
• Supporting local production of affordable hygiene products among others.
The Minister later expressed his appreciation to the Partners and appealed to them to expand their commitment as “we advance towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030”.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
