Implementation is always a challenge for interventions that concern healthcare worker behaviour change. As the largest patient safety initiative in the world, the global campaign for improving hand hygiene has led in creative approaches to keeping a worldwide audience engaged, and in both preventing and addressing campaign fatigue inherent to such a large initiative.

In order to reignite the central message, ministries of health and healthcare facilities around the world should adapt the campaign’s messages and tools so that they fit the local context ('Adapt to Adopt').

This year, in honour of World Hand Hygiene Day (5th of May), the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Patient Safety at the University Hospitals of Geneva launched the original song “It’s in Your Hands” to spread the message of hand hygiene and why it is important for patient safety in a fun and adaptable way.

The reason that we need creative ways to champion hand hygiene is simple: each year, 16 million patients around the world die from infections acquired during health care delivery. These infections also incur high costs for patients and their families, and a huge financial burden for society. Good hand hygiene can prevent a large part of these healthcare-associated infections.

The WHO calls on everyone to be inspired by the global movement to achieve universal health coverage ('Health for All'). This means achieving better health and well-being for all people at all ages, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. In terms of hand hygiene’s role in infection prevention, the central theme is 'Clean Care for All: It’s in your hands'. Improving hand hygiene in healthcare facilities is a practical and evidence-based approach with demonstrable impact on the quality of care and patient safety, and contributes to saving 5 to 10 million human lives a year.

This song is available to everyone to use and adapt as they see most useful. The WHO Collaborating Center is working to make subtitles that have already been requested in a number of different languages that can then be chosen when viewing the video on YouTube. Please do not hesitate to contact the Collaborating Center for access to materials or if you have a special request. We hope that this song inspires you, and that you will make it your own.

“It’s in Your Hands” Music Video

The April issue of the JHI, available online, contains a special section on hand hygiene and an overview of the 'Clean your Hands' campaign.

“It’s in Your Hands” Lyrics :

Hands do more than wave

'cause hands can kill

and they can save

You, you are the key

Life's in your hands

so sing with me (x2)

Hands are such a simple thing

but our hands can change most everything

keep care safe, give life a chance

clean care for all- it's in your hands

Hands are such a simple thing

but our hands can change most everything

keep care safe, and take a stand

clean care for all- it's in your hands

Safe, clean care saves lives

rubbing our hands

helps us  survive

Come and join the fight

demand clean care

it is your right (x2)

Refrain

All around the world

Let's join our hands

and let's be heard

Rub your hands for you

for those you love

and patients too

All around the world

Let's rub our hands

and let's be heard

Refrain

it's in your hands

it's in your hands

it's in your hands

Composition: Patrick Vuillaume

Lyrics: Alexandra Peters

Vocal performances: Egilda, Virgile, Didier Pittet

Production: Ghost L.A. Records, 2019

Video production: Erik Barber Salvat - Noubasa Productions