Manipal: Over 5000 staff and students of Manipal University and Kasturba Hospital Manipal organised a mammoth exercise of hand washing in a bid to create a World Record in Hand washing, at the Marena Sports Complex on October 16.
Doctors, nursing staff and the administrative team of Kasturba Medical College and Hospital Manipal, and health care institutions comprising of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Melaka Manipal Medical College – Manipal Campus, School of Allied Health Sciences and Manipal College of Nursing, and Kasturba Medical College Mangalore took part in the relay which was inaugurated by Pro Chancellor, Manipal University, Dr H.S Ballal.
Dr (Col) M Dayananda Medical Superintendent and COO said, “Each participant performed the 6-step procedure for hand sanitation and passed on the alcohol-based hand santizer to the next participant and exit the venue. The purpose of celebrating the Global Handwashing Day was to spread the message of Hygiene and encourage everyone to make hand washing a habit.”
“Apart from attempting a Guinness Record, the exercise also helps in creating awareness about hand hygiene. There are About 90,000 people who die due to Hospital Acquired infection in India every year. This initiative would enable Kasturba Hospital, Manipal in leading effective implementation of the infection control measures in the healthcare industry. Proper hand santisation plays a key role in controlling the spread of communicable diseases. This does not limit to hospitals but is also to be done at homes where we are ideally required to practice the six step hand washing with soap which should last for about 20 seconds for proper sanitization,” Dr Dayananda added.
The existing world record is of 1711 set by Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. Elaborate arrangements were made to ensure the smooth conduct of the event and every participant was given a prior practice on the scientific six step method to be employed to wash hands. Five advocates were present as witness, timekeepers and stewards were from institutes in neighbouring Mangaluru and there were policemen also on duty.
Long queues of enthusiastic participants were visible even late night.
