The Egyptian Society for Infection Control (ESIC)

World Hand Hygiene Day – 2025

The Egyptian Society for Infection Control (ESIC), in collaboration with the WHO Country Office Egypt, and in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, successfully organized a distinguished Scientific Day in celebration of World Hand Hygiene Day 2025. The event brought together a wide range of healthcare professionals, academic faculty, infection preventionists, and leaders from across the healthcare sector.

The event began with a welcoming speech by Professor Maha Fathy, ESIC President and a heartfelt tribute to Prof. Dr. Osama Raslan, the founder and former president of ESIC. The Society presented a commemorative shield to his family, in recognition of his legacy and dedication.

The scientific activities started with a lecture by Dr. Rana Sherif, IPC Specialist at WHO Country Office Egypt.  introducing the 2025 campaign theme: “Gloves when needed… Hand hygiene always.”

A multi-stakeholder panel discussion followed, titled:
“Enhancing HH Materials Quality & Sustainability: Getting All Hands on Deck”

Moderated by experts from ESIC, the General Authority of Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR), Ministry of Health and Population, the Egyptian Organization of Standardization (EOS), and industry representative. The discussion highlighted challenges and proposed actionable solutions to ensure safe, sustainable supplies that support patient and healthcare worker safety.

An interactive workshop was held under the theme:
“The Power of 4Es: An Effective Approach to Hand Hygiene Excellence”

Structured according to WHO guidelines and behavior change principles, the workshop adopts the CDC’s 4 Es framework to ensure a holistic approach to hand hygiene enhancement through: Educate, Execute, Evaluate, Engage.

The day also included a lively scientific competition on WHO’s “Five Moments for Hand Hygiene”. Participants were engaged in analyzing case scenarios and demonstrated their ability to apply this model in clinical settings.

The event ran from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with outstanding engagement, collaborative spirit, and a unique balance of seriousness and enjoyment—making it a truly memorable and impactful scientific day.