Hand Hygiene Awareness Campaign held at Father Muller Hospital

Mangaluru: The Hospital Infection Control (HIC) department of Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH), Kankanady organised a Hand Hygiene awareness drill for all healthcare workers as part of the World Hand Hygiene Day celebrations on 5 May 2023. Apart from this drill there were various other competitions related to Hand Hygiene for the staff and students of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI).

The Hand Hygiene awareness campaign inaugural was held at the Asha Kiran entrance ground at 7.30 am on April 29 2023. Rev Fr Nelson Dheeraj Pais, Asst Administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH) presided over the function. Dr Jessy Maria D’Souza, Resident Medical Officer, Department of Community Medicine at Father Muller Rural Health Training Centre, Bajpe was the chief guest.

Rev Sr Dhanya Devasia, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Dr Rekha B HIC Committee Chairperson and Dr Thomas S K HIC Officer of FMMCH were the other dignitaries present for the inaugural. Rev Sr Dhanya Devasia welcomed the gathering. This was followed by the unveiling of the World Health Organization theme for World Hand Hygiene Day 2023 “Accelerate action together. Save Lives-Clean your hands” and the release of balloons to celebrate the day. The president and the chief guest addressed the gathering and motivated the staff to strictly follow all the hand hygiene steps and movements at their workplace.

All the health care workers then performed the drill of the 6 steps of Hand Hygiene as directed by the HIC department members. The programme was anchored by Renita Noronha HIC nurse FMMCH. The valedictory program of World Hand Hygiene Day was organised on 5 May 2023 at 3.30 pm. Rev Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Director, FMCI presided over the function. Dr Vidya Pai, Professor, Dept of Microbiology was the chief guest. Rev Fr Nelson Dheeraj Pais, Rev. Fr George Jeevan Sequeira, Asst administrators of FMMCH, Dr Jessy Maria Dsouza, Rev Sr Dhanya Devasia and other dignitaries present for the valedictory.

Dr Rekha B welcomed the gathering. The president and the chief guest addressed the gathering and motivated all to make hand hygiene a habit and strictly follow all the hand hygiene protocols not only at health care facilities but also in a community setting.

The programme was anchored by Renita Noronha HIC nurse FMMCH. The prize winners’ names for the competitions (Rangoli Art, Poster Creation & Spin a Reel ) based on the WHO theme were read out by HICN’s Jithin PC and Dipti Fernandes and the winners were felicitated by the dignitaries. The vote of thanks was delivered by Deena Andrade HICN. The program ended with the institutional anthem.