Mafraq Hospital launches clean hands campaign

Abu Dhabi: Mafraq Hospital yesterday launched a year-long hand hygiene awareness campaign entitled "Clean Hands Save Lives".

The campaign targets Mafraq Hospital staff, patients, and the Abu Dhabi community, especially children. The educational initiative reinforces the importance of one of the simplest methods of preventing infection — hand washing.

Running for a full year, peak activities will take place in July and August, and in October to coincide with Global Hand Washing Day on October 15.

Mascot created

The hospital has created a hand hygiene mascot, Habib the Hand, designed to attract and engage children while communicating the benefits of hand hygiene. The mascot will educate and play with patients and their families in the children's ward of the hospital.

"The Clean Hands Save Lives campaign is a crucial part of patient safety at Mafraq Hospital," said John Nickens, CEO, Mafraq Hospital. "To really drive the message home, we have focused on creating a program that is cheerful, lighthearted, colourful and also educational to raise overall awareness of the benefits of hand washing.

"We are starting at the base, right here in the hospital, but also branching out into the wider community. The aim is to transform hand washing with soap from an abstract ‘good idea' into an automatic behaviour performed in homes, schools, and across communities in the UAE."

By October 2010, a number of interactive community activities which primarily target families will take place across Abu Dhabi. Educational materials including banners in public bathrooms will be distributed as a constant yet fun reminder of the benefits of hand washing.