A medical don, Dr Sani Giade, has urged paediatric healthcare workers to prioritize proper hand hygiene as a critical measure for preventing infections.
Giade, a lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) College of Medical Sciences, Bauchi, made the call during a capacity-building programme for healthcare workers held on Tuesday in Bauchi.
The programme was organized by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Programme at the ATBU College of Medical Sciences.
The training focused on the foundations of infection prevention and control, with special emphasis on hand hygiene as a key tool for reducing infections in health facilities.
According to Giade, poor hand hygiene among healthcare workers remains a major contributor to healthcare-associated infections.
“It is one of the most effective and life-saving practices in healthcare delivery, particularly in high-risk clinical settings.
“Such infections often lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased medical expenses and preventable deaths, especially among vulnerable patients,” he said.
He noted that simple measures, such as correct hand-washing techniques and the appropriate use of alcohol-based hand rubs, could significantly reduce the transmission of infections within hospitals.
Giade said the importance of hand hygiene is even greater in units that care for newborns, children and pregnant women.
“In areas such as the Special Care Baby Unit and the Emergency Paediatric and Early Pregnancy Units, hand hygiene is not optional.
“It is a critical safety measure that directly affects survival outcomes,” he said.
The don explained that the programme combined theoretical sessions with practical demonstrations to ensure participants understood when and how to perform hand hygiene in line with global best practices.
While urging the healthcare workers to consistently apply the knowledge gained in their daily routines, he said sustained behavioral change would significantly improve patient safety.
He added that the training formed part of a broader commitment to strengthening infection prevention practices and reducing preventable child and maternal deaths in Bauchi State.
Participants at the training included healthcare workers from the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), the Emergency Paediatric Unit and the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) of the teaching hospital, as well as staff of the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi.
