Inadequate Minimal Hygiene

It is recommended that all medical staff wash their hands before and after all hands-on medical examinations and procedures. Yet, in the many years i have been at Teaching Hospital i have never seen a doctor wash their hands whilst on ward rounds. They examine a patient and go right ahead onto the next, completely oblivious to the fact that they are aiding in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. 

Not only does the hospital administration seem to disregard the shortcomings by its staff failing to meet the the most basic of medical practices they have gone as far enough as to close off the hand washing basins that are present in wards and public cabins. I cannot help but contemplate in abhorrence how the country’s most coveted tertiary hospital seems to blatantly disregard the safety and well being of its patients by putting them in harms way. 

The administrators of the hospital must ensure that patient well being and safety is prioritized by demanding all medical staff follow the most basic practices like ensuring adequate hand hygiene before and after each hands-on interaction. 

It saddens me that the TUTH administration does not have the foresight to realize that by demanding its staff follow sufficient hand hygiene, it will actually lessen the burden of nosocomial infections. A simple act as washing their before and after hands-on interactions will lessen the burden of disease on patients and make the hospital more efficient as it will redistribute medical resources to areas it is most demanded.