Though the life-saving benefits of using soap were first recognised by Ignaz Semmelweis, more than a century-and-a-half later, surveys in U.K. showed that one in four doctors and nurses still did not wash their hands consistently between examining patients. This record was dramatically improved after the ‘Clean Your Hands’ campaign, launched in England and Wales in 2004.
The campaign has been critical and medical staff, patients and visitors appreciate the value and the importance of washing one’s hands to prevent the spread of bugs. (‘Life’ page, “Celebrating a forgotten medical genius”, July 1).
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
