Action Saves Lives: University of Malta Marks World Hand Hygiene Day

On 5 May 2026, World Hand Hygiene Day, the Department of Nursing within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta, in collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) unit, Mater Dei Hospital, organised a national symposium entitled “Action Saves Lives: Advancing Safer Practice in Infection Prevention and Control.”

The event was supported by the Office of the Superintendence of Public Health within the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, Nursing and Midwifery Services Directorate, the National AMR Committee, and Health Care Without Harm. It brought together more than 380 clinicians, healthcare workers, students, and public health professionals for a day of learning, expert exchange, and collective commitment to safer care.

Infection Prevention and Control is central to resilient healthcare systems. As healthcare faces growing pressures from antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections, pharmaceutical pollution, and environmental challenges such as climate change and water contamination, strengthening IPC practice and education is fundamental. The symposium brought together local and international experts to explore the role of infection prevention in protecting patients, preserving the efficacy of antibiotics, and safeguarding healthcare systems for the future.

The scientific programme featured contributions on hand hygiene promotion, antimicrobial stewardship, behavioural change, and leadership in infection prevention. A recurring and compelling message was that infection prevention is not the exclusive domain of specialist teams, it is the shared responsibility of every individual working within healthcare. From frontline hand hygiene practice to responsible prescribing and sustainable healthcare waste management, the cumulative impact of everyday actions on patient safety and environmental health was made clear. The evidence-base highlights that simple, consistent interventions are powerful and cost-effective tools available to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

The event also marked the launch of a new microcredential, “Water EDUCare: Antibiotic Pollution Awareness for Healthcare Professionals” (NUR4427), developed in partnership with Health Care Without Harm as part of the Water EDUCare project.

The course addresses a recognised gap in health workforce education: the environmental consequences of pharmaceutical pollution, particularly antibiotic residues entering aquatic ecosystems from healthcare settings. Grounded in a One Health and planetary health framework, the microcredential equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge to reduce pharmaceutical emissions at source, through responsible prescribing, effective waste segregation, sustainable procurement, and facility-level action planning. As antimicrobial resistance continues to accelerate, understanding the environmental drivers of resistance is as essential as clinical vigilance. Advancing safer healthcare requires sustained action at every level.

Healthcare professionals interested in enrolling in the Water EDUCare microcredential are encouraged to contact the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences via email.