SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands Campaign
May 1 – 7, 2026 Recurs yearly
Find specific campaign dates, ribbons, national and international observances.
May 1 – 7, 2026 Recurs yearly
Action saves lives
The SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign is the World Health Organization's annual global advocacy campaign dedicated to improving hand hygiene in healthcare. Launched in 2009, it brings together governments, health ministries, hospitals, healthcare professionals, professional associations, and patient organizations to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC). Throughout the campaign week, participants promote education, advocacy, policy implementation, and practical actions that improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce healthcare-associated infections worldwide.
“Action saves lives.” emphasizes that hand hygiene must move beyond awareness and become consistent action at the right time and in the right way. In 2026, WHO called on everyone providing and supporting healthcare to renew action on hand hygiene and IPC to improve the safety of both patients and health workers.
The campaign highlights that a substantial proportion of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can be prevented when hand hygiene and other IPC measures are performed appropriately. It also stresses that effective hand hygiene depends on health facilities having reliable access to water, soap, clean towels and alcohol-based handrub, together with education, training, monitoring and institutional commitment.
Find specific campaign dates, ribbons, national and international observances.
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