World Hand Hygiene Day Start › News < back 5 May 2025 Today, May 5th, is World Hand Hygiene Day, an initiative promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim of raising awareness among the population about the importance of this simple but vital gesture in preventing infections. Proper hand washing is recognized as one of the most effective measures to reduce the spread of microorganisms and protect both health professionals and patients, especially in hospital settings. In the health sector, the risk of transmission is high, and adopting good hygiene practices is crucial to ensuring safer care. This day is also a moment for reflection. More than just being part of the daily routine, hand hygiene represents an act of individual and collective responsibility, essential for controlling infections such as seasonal flu, among others. Reinforcing this practice becomes an automatic reflex in the daily lives of professionals and institutions. Washing hands saves lives.