The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, has recommitted to safer healthcare with the launch of a Hand Hygiene Quality Improvement Dashboard designed to enhance patient safety. The innovative monitoring tool, developed by the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Unit, aims to strengthen compliance monitoring, accountability, feedback, and data-driven improvement across the hospital system.
Launch Event and Key Figures
Speaking at the event marking the 2026 World Hand Hygiene Day, where the hospital also inaugurated 42 IPC Link Nurses drawn from various wards and units, the UNTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Obinna Onodugo, highlighted the dashboard’s components. These include hand hygiene observations, application of the WHO Five Moments for Hand Hygiene, monitoring of supplies and infrastructure, training and capacity building, safety culture assessment, and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials aimed at promoting sustained behavioral change and improved patient safety.
Commendation and Future Plans
Prof. Onodugo expressed delight at the innovation and commended the IPC Unit for their vision, dedication, and hard work in developing the dashboard. He assured the team of management’s commitment to supporting its implementation and expressed interest in expanding similar monitoring systems to other components of standard precautions and IPC practices within the hospital.
The World Hand Hygiene Day, with the theme “Action Saves Lives: Clean Hands Save Lives,” became a moment of reflection, recommitment, and strategic action towards strengthening the hospital’s hand hygiene programme and overall IPC system.
