The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, on Saturday, inaugurated a transformer for water plant and manual soap dispensers to promote hand hygiene within the hospital environment.

The hospital inaugurated the projects during the celebration of “2024 World Hand Hygiene Day” at the hospital premises.

The World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated every May 5 to maintain a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Medical Director of the UNTH, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, said the hospital had in the past struggled with the weight of crippling water scarcity that hindered effective medicare, sanitation and proper hand-washing.

He noted that the hospital had in 2023 broken the age-long cycle of drought by revamping the water facilities in the teaching hospital.

The CMD said that the project brought the much-needed relief and improved patients’ access to water.

“It also brings about better hygiene; improving the quality of healthcare delivery at the point of patient care which was one of the high points of the World Hand Hygiene celebration. Even with the efforts, the community still witnessed epileptic supply of water caused by lack of constant power generation leading to disproportion of the upstream and downstream flow of water to improve the pressure to the user end.

“The management team returned to the drawing board to further bolster their efforts to ensure the milestones of 2023 were fully harnessed and brought to completion,” he said.

He stated that aside from the transformer and dispensers, the hospital provided other hand hygiene commodities and equipment in the entire theatre and across the wards to ensure easy access to soap for healthcare workers at all times.

Mr Onodugo lauded the efforts of the infection prevention and control unit for always performing its duties, ensuring that patients and healthcare workers were safe by creating policy and implementing IPC measures.

Reacting, the IPC Focal Point of the hospital, Dr Kachi Ugwa, thanked the management for its unwavering support, and pledged to continue making sure that all the gaps were met.

This, Mr Ugwa said, included providing a safe environment which was free from any harm.

He appreciated the contributions and support of the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee CMAC, Dr Nkiru Nwachukwu, towards ensuring improved hygiene standards throughout the hospital, benefiting both patients and healthcare workers.

Contributing, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Joy Eze, also reiterated the management’s unwavering commitment to promoting hand hygiene and other infection, prevention and control practices within the hospital’s environment.

(NAN)