Public urged to clean hands properly to prevent spread of infectious diseases in support of Hand Hygiene Day
In support of Hand Hygiene Day, the Department of Health (DH) today (May 5) launched the 2025 Hand Hygiene Day campaign, and appealed to members of the public to develop habits of cleaning hands properly at the right moments with a view to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Hand Hygiene Day is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization held annually on May 5. Using the tagline "Clean Properly—Every Surface, Every Time" this year, the DH aims to promote the critical role of proper hand hygiene techniques in both the healthcare and community settings, and will roll out a series of publicity activities, which include displaying posters and visual cues in hospitals, clinics under the DH and Hospital Authority (HA), health centres, residential care homes for the elderly and public toilets to raise public awareness about proper hand hygiene techniques.
"Hand hygiene is a seemingly small but powerful act to prevent the spread of infections. About 80 per cent of infectious diseases are transmitted by not thoroughly cleaned hands after touching contaminated surfaces, and a single bacterium can multiply into 16 million bacteria in just six hours. Hand-washing can prevent approximately 30 per cent of diarrhea-related illnesses and about 20 per cent of respiratory infections," the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui said.
In the healthcare settings, the DH and the HA have conducted regular hand hygiene audits among healthcare workers. In the past decade, the overall compliance rate has continuously improved, reaching over 90 per cent since 2021. To build a healthier and safer community, the public should commit to cleaning hands properly—every surface, every time and adopt it as a daily habit.
For effective protection, it is important to clean hands with appropriate hand hygiene techniques at the right moments. When hands are visibly dirty, wash them with liquid soap and water. A 70-80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative when hands are not visibly soiled. Clean your hands for at least 20 seconds following the 7 Steps of Hand Hygiene (see Annex) to thoroughly clean every surface of the hands including the palms, the backs of the hands, the fingers webs, the backs of the fingers, the thumbs, the fingertips, and the wrists. The public and healthcare workers should clean their hands at the following moments:
Before and after touching one's eyes, nose, or mouth;
Before eating or preparing food;
After using the toilet;
After hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions, such as after coughing or sneezing;
After changing diapers for children or the sick, or handling soiled items;
After touching animals, poultry, or their droppings;
After handling garbage;
After touching public installations or equipment, such as escalator handrails, elevator buttons, or door handles;
Before and after visiting hospitals, residential care homes, or caring for the sick; and
Whenever your hands are visibly dirty.
For more information on hand hygiene, please visit https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/108742.html.
Source: AI-generated images
Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for Welfare Sector 2026-27 invites applications
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced that the full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector 2026-27 is inviting applications starting today (January 12). The programme, which will last for two years, with a total of 427 places, aims to train students to become enrolled nurses to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the welfare sector and enhance the quality of care services.
In response to the keen demand for nurses in the welfare sector, the SWD has commissioned the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Saint Francis University and the Tung Wah College to provide the Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector for five consecutive years starting from the 2023-24 academic year.
An SWD spokesman said, "Applicants for the programme must be permanent Hong Kong residents with right of abode in Hong Kong and have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences. They must also have attained Level2 or above in five subjects, including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and any two other subjects in Categories A (Note) and B, in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; or an equivalent qualification. Applicants are also required to take note of other entry requirements as specified by respective training institutes."
The spokesman added, "To encourage young people and frontline staff currently serving the welfare sector to upgrade their professional skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who have successfully completed the two-year Diploma Programme and obtained the diploma under the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services launched in 2015 (or under the First-hire-then-train Pilot Scheme from 2013 to 2016) by the SWD; or those who are currently working full-time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals who aspire to pursue a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector are also welcome."
Tuition fees will be reimbursed to trainees in full on the condition that they have successfully completed the training programme and qualified to register as enrolled nurses within two years. Trainees will be required to sign an undertaking to work as an Enrolled Nurse (General) in NGOs or private organisations recognised by the SWD for providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, or correctional services for a continuous period of no less than three years after completion of the training.
Information seminars on the training programme will be held by the three institutes starting from January. Details of the information seminars are set out in the table below:
Training institute |
Date and time of information seminar |
Website |
Enquiry number |
Hong Kong Metropolitan University |
2pm,
January 27 |
Programme content (Chinese only)
www.hkmu.edu.hk/nhs/tc/programmes-courses/nursing-and-health-studies/sub-degree-programmes/hdngf1_hdngosf1/
Application
admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/ug/online-application |
3970 2928 /
3970 2957 |
Saint Francis University |
3pm, February 6 |
Programme content
www.sfu.edu.hk/en/programmes/sub-degree-programmes/higher-diploma-in-enrolled-nursing-general-hden-swd/introduction/index.html
Application
onlineapplication.sfu.edu.hk/oa/admission/hdenswdForm |
3702 4388 |
Tung Wah College |
3.30pm, January 28 |
Programme content
www.twc.edu.hk/en/Programmes/hdn_swd
Application
www.twc.edu.hk/admission/ |
3190 6672 |
Applications will be closed at 5pm on March 2. For enquiries, please call the enquiry numbers of the training institutes.
Note: "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development will be accepted as Level 2.
Source: AI-found images
