By Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh
Celebrated every year on 5 May, Hand Hygiene Day and International Day of the Midwife mobilize people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities and to celebrate the contribution of midwife to effective health systems.
In 2020, both celebrations are aligned with the global year of the Nurse and the Midwife and aim to recognize nurses and midwives as front-line heroes who deserve acknowledgement and appreciation and highlight their important roles in infection prevention.
Competent and trained midwives placed in effective health systems can avert 83% of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and newborn deaths. Midwives are placed in the union subcenters and the upazila health complexes, which is at the heart of primary health services in Bangladesh. Midwives are essential in delivering primary health services to all, especially to the most difficult to reach communities and their presence are vital towards advancing universal health coverage.
Furthermore, midwives and nurses are also playing a critical role in delivering to other health staff as well as to communities the hands hygiene message, teaching by their own example and strengthening the foundation of infection prevention and control. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the virus that causes COVID-19, diarrheal diseases and respiratory illnesses.
Health workers and community members alike can play a role in preventing infections by practicing regular and frequent handwashing. Let us all do our part and adopt good hand hygiene practice for ourselves, for the community, and for a healthier Bangladesh.
In this special day when we are celebrating midwife and mark the Hand Hygiene Day, WHO is proud to stand by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other health partners in supporting the development of nursing and midwifery sector as well as enhancing infection prevention and control measures at health facility.
I thank all health workers of the country for their hard work during this difficult time of pandemic when Hand Hygiene is more than ever a top priority and my warmest appreciation goes to midwives, in celebrating their role in safety of mothers and children, as well as to nurses, for their continued care and dedication.
Nurses and midwives, clean care is in your hands!
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