Healthcare professionals from Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand attended a Training the Trainers Programme on Hand Hygiene for healthcare professionals on 9-11 January 2018.

The training was organised by B. Braun Thailand, Aesculap Academy, the WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety Infection Control & Improving Practices and GIZ’s project on Improving Occupational Safety and Health of Healthcare Workers in Public Hospitals in Thailand in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and the Healthcare Accreditation Institute (Public Organisation).

What are the issues?

Healthcare professionals such as nurses, surgeons, midwives and even pharmacists are constantly exposed to infection in environments open to various types of pathogens. Not only are they at risk of contracting infection while treating patients, they also act as a conduit for the spread of infection.

Hand hygiene is not merely about washing the hands with soap before and after the treatment or contact with patients. Proper techniques will prevent infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, colds, hepatitis, skin diseases, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases.

What is there to learn?

The training provided healthcare professionals with the most up-to-date clinical and operational knowledge on proper hand hygiene techniques and procedures in healthcare settings such as ‘How to Hand Rub’, ‘How to Hand Wash’ and ‘5 Moments for Hand Hygiene’.

The 3-day training included intensive presentations and discussion sessions facilitated by Professor Didier Pittet, a renowned international expert on infectious diseases and the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety Infection Control & Improving Practices. The participants were given the big picture from a worldwide perspective, the situation in Thailand, the story behind the success, WHO’s strategy, and innovations in promotion across the globe.

To understand the actual clinical scenario, a simulation session was conducted for the participants to demonstrate and practice Hand Hygiene compliances within a virtual healthcare setting. The participants from each country exchanged information, lessons learned and knowledge management on challenges and experiences on the practices of Hand Hygiene.

What benefits can be seen from the training? 

At the end of the training, the participants developed a work plan based on the knowledge and practices gained during the training, which is designed to aim to promote and improve hand hygiene standards and practices among healthcare professionals and reduce the infection rate among patients and healthcare workers in their hospitals.  Furthermore, the knowledge on hand hygiene will also be disseminated to their patients.