Hygiene we forget: why Luxembourg reminds us to wash our hands

No, this call is not just for children. World Hand Hygiene Day on 5 May in Luxembourg has a slogan that should concern everyone: "Wash your hands - and do it right". The Ministry of Health reminds us that the spread of infections, from trivial viruses to serious pathogens, could in most cases be stopped... with a tap of soap and water.

Although medical professionals receive special training and know all the rules of "hand hygiene up to the elbow", the focus this year is on ordinary citizens. Wash your hands not only after using the bathroom, but also after touching animals, after sneezing, before preparing food and, of course, if your hands are visually dirty. Does this sound trivial? Statistics say that most of us do it either too infrequently or incorrectly.

The Centre for Neuropsychiatry (CNHP) in Ettelbruck was a particular highlight of the day. The centre not only held information sessions, but also organised a flash mob involving doctors and patients. "We don't just want to remind, but also to motivate," explained the organisers. After all, hygiene is not just about rules, but also about habits that take years to develop.

Simple soap can be a barrier to bacteria and viruses, especially during the season of spikes in acute respiratory infections or other infections. And oddly enough, the reminder to "wash your hands" still sounds like a relevant mantra - in the hospital, at home and in the workplace.

Global campaigns like this one are a way to remind us that personal responsibility in health starts small. And while we're adopting sleep-tracking apps or signing up for telemedicine, good old-fashioned soap is still relevant.