OAUTHC Marks World Hand Hygiene Day 2026 with Strategic IPC Re-Inauguration

The Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) has intensified its fight against healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) with a comprehensive event to mark World Hand Hygiene Day 2026.

Themed “Action Saves Lives,” the event featured expert-led sessions and the official re-inauguration of the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Committee, underscoring the facility's commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence.

Opening the ceremony, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. John Okeniyi, emphasized that infection prevention is a proactive process that begins long before a patient falls ill. He noted that hands are primary vehicles for pathogen transmission and that consistent hand hygiene is a decisive factor in lowering mortality rates and curbing antibiotic resistance.

Keynote speaker and Consultant Clinical Microbiologist, Dr. Adewale Amupitan, echoed these sentiments, describing hand hygiene as a "bridge between awareness and impact." He challenged healthcare workers to move beyond theory, stating that every instance of hand cleaning is a conscious life-saving decision.

To ensure technical accuracy among staff, Mrs. Foluke Aramide, a Deputy Director of Nursing Services and IPC Specialist, led a practical demonstration. She outlined the rigorous 40-to-60-second handwashing protocol required to eliminate infectious microorganisms effectively.