India, May 5 -- On the World Hand Hygiene Day, the World Health Organization urged governments, health-care facilities, and frontline workers around the world to reinforce hand hygiene practices - a proven, cost-effective intervention to protect both patients and health-care workers.
While medical gloves serve a vital role in preventing transmission of infection, for example when there is risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time.
"Medical gloves can reduce the risk of infection, but they are never a replacement for hand hygiene," said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course. "On this World Hand Hygiene Day, let us double down ...