Aster DM Healthcare (DMH) has marked World Hand Hygiene Day with a series of activities between May 3 and 6.
The events at Aster Hospital and Aster Medical Centres had support from the Ministry of
Public Health (MoPH).
The aim was to enhance patient safety and spread awareness among healthcare professionals, patients and family members, according to a statement.
The final ceremony and gift distribution for various competitions was held at Aster Hospital Doha on May 6. Dhouha Ammar Hamdani, infection control observer, and Dr Nahla Hassan Sharaf - representing the MoPH; Dr Nazar Moopan, medical director and chief of medical staff - Aster DMH Qatar; Dr Kapil Chib, chief operating officer - Aster Hospital; Dr Raghu K, medical director - Aster Hospital; and Dr Mahesh Patel, senior manager - Quality Assurance, spoke about the need for and importance of infection control among healthcare professionals.
This year’s campaign theme ‘It’s in your hands - Prevent sepsis in healthcare’, brings to light the need for a greater focus on hand hygiene and infection prevention and control programmes in the ongoing global battle against antibiotic resistance.
Studies have shown that although compliance rates are improving, a significant percentage of healthcare workers fail to consistently wash their hands between patients. Most studies have strongly correlated that the basic cause of any disease is infection spread through the hands. 
Hamdani appreciated Aster’s efforts for supporting the ‘WHO Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ campaign that aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.
Dr Sameer Moopan, CEO of Aster DM Healthcare – Qatar, said: “At Aster Hospital and Medical Centres, we ensure that strict compliance with infection control protocols is maintained with zero tolerance for any errors. In the last one year, Aster Hospital has performed over 500 surgeries and we have been able to maintain 100% compliance with infection control protocols of the MoPH, resulting in zero infection rates post-surgeries.
Dr Patel added that Aster is committed to ensuring quality and patient safety, in which hand hygiene play a crucial role in preventing infection in healthcare facilities. “As part of our commitment towards the community for spreading awareness, we have educated more than 3,200 students in the last year.”