Phnom Penh: Minister of Health, Professor Chheang Ra, stated that hand washing is a good etiquette, dignity, trust, and honesty, with good people considering hand washing as an act of kindness.
In celebration of the 18th anniversary World Hand Hygiene Day, May 5, 2026, under the theme: “Saving Lives through Hand Hygiene” on May 6, 2026, Professor Chheang Ra said that organizing this day is a proactive response to the challenges of the wave of infections in hospitals and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a global public health problem.
Professor Minister advised and reminded doctors, nurses, hygienists, patients, caregivers, and patients’ families to wash their hands to prevent and eliminate infections in hospitals. In addition, the professor highlighted the importance of hand washing as a virtue, clean hands are a sign of honor, clean hands are a sign of confidence, hand hygiene is a sign of honesty, good people with clean hands are hygienic, and dirty hands do not touch each other to avoid infection, and considers hand washing to be a necessary act of kindness.
The Minister emphasized that hand hygiene is not just a technical health task, but a key pillar in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the five-pronged strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
On that occasion, the Minister recommended that hand hygiene indicators be included as a key strategy in the National Action Plan on Infection Prevention and Control and the Health Strategic Plan. A system for monitoring hand hygiene practices and providing feedback should be established in all referral hospitals to measure progress and challenges.
The Minister emphasized that hand hygiene can save lives and prevent infections in hospitals if everyone acts correctly. Therefore, efforts should be made to integrate this work into all levels of health care services to reduce the threat of healthcare-associated infections, which often cause hardship to patients and families.
