![[:pt]clínica cura pura](https://curapura.pt/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/logo-footer2.png){kind=logo}
The World Day of Hand Hygiene is celebrated on the 5th of May. It was created by the World Health Organization, with the objective of making the population aware of this act and its importance.
In the context of a pandemic such as that currently experienced, hand hygiene plays an especially relevant role and is the most effective measure to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
In Portugal, the Directorate-General for Health, through the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Infections and Resistance to Antimicrobials (PPCIRA), joins the celebrations, emphasizing hand hygiene, integrated into the set of basic control precautions infection, as a measure of continuity, either in pandemic times or afterwards, as a positive behavioral representative.
The simple and quick act of washing hands with soap, prevents 40% from the incidence of infections such as diarrhea, flu, colds, skin diseases, sore throats, infections in the ear and stomach. Many fungi and germs accumulate in the hands and are easily passed on to others.
In addition to preventing and mitigating infections, the habit of washing hands favors the safety of patients, professionals and all the people with whom they live on a daily basis. It was only in the 19th century that it was concluded that hand washing by doctors prevented deaths and contagions.
On this day, all health units are invited to promote hand washing. Food professionals are also encouraged to take safer and more hygienic measures.
