Tuesday 5 May 2026 marks World Hand Hygiene Day – a global campaign highlighting the vital role of good hand hygiene in preventing infection and protecting patients, healthcare professionals and communities.
Observed every year on 5 May, the day reinforces the message that hand hygiene is everyone’s responsibility. World Hand Hygiene Day was established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2009 as part of its SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands initiative.
2026 campaign: ‘Action Saves Lives’
This year marks the 18th year of the SAVE LIVES campaign. The 2026 slogan, ‘Action Saves Lives’, calls on healthcare professionals and supporters to refresh and recommit to best practice in:
- Hand hygiene
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
- Patient and colleague safety
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene
While medical gloves are essential in situations where there is a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time.
Key messages for World Hand Hygiene Day include:
- Gloves can become contaminated, just like hands
- Wearing gloves between patients or across multiple procedures is unsafe
- Overuse of gloves contributes significantly to environmental harm
An average hospital generates 1,634 tonnes of healthcare waste each year, much of it from single‑use items such as gloves. Most used gloves are classed as infectious waste, requiring energy‑intensive treatment and placing additional strain on waste management systems. Appropriate glove use, alongside consistent hand hygiene, can significantly reduce this impact.
Why hand hygiene matters
Effective hand hygiene is one of the simplest and most effective ways to:
- Prevent healthcare‑associated infections (HAIs)
- Reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- Protect patients, visitors and health workers
- Save lives and reduce avoidable healthcare costs
The message is clear
Clean hands save lives. Correct hand hygiene, combined with appropriate glove use, protects patients, staff and the environment. Every action counts.
