World Hand Hygiene Day 2025: It might be gloves… It’s always hand hygiene

Every year, on May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day reminds us that the hands are still one of the most powerful practices to protect our health. This year, health workers around the world celebrate the day under the WHO issue: “It can be gloves. It is always hand hygiene.”

While gloves are used as a preventive tool to help stop the spread of diseases, it is important to highlight that gloves are a complement, not a replacement for hands hygiene. About the dependence on gloves increases conerns beyond infection prevention. Gloves are not biodegradable, and when used unnecessarily, it contributes to medical care waste.

In humanitarian environments, where resources are limited and vulnerabilities are high, the prevention of the propagation of germs becomes equally more critical. In Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), working on high -risk environments and low resources, we see first hand how this basic practice saves lives. While gloves can protect against pollution, their improper use, such as not changing gloves among patients or neglecting hands hygiene, may increase the risk of infection transmission. Protecting patients is our priority, and the use of gloves response not only helps prevent infections, but also minimizes environmental damage, especially in environments where waste management capabilities are limited.

For this reason, it is important to use the pyramid “USA of WHO gloves” as a reference, guide health workers determine when gloves are needed, and when hands hygiene is sufficient. The message is simple: always clean your hands, even when gloves are used. In MSF, we completely support this message of infections prevention and environmental responsibility. The reduction of the unnecessary use of gloves not only prevents cross contamination but also a lower environmental impact of medical care. We will support science: the hygiene of the hands and the rational glove use of the hand. Protecting patients and our planet begins with all of us, because hygiene is not just the responsibility of health workers, it is a shared dimia that we all carry, in each environment, every day.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) translates as ‘doctors without borders’. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflicts, epidemics, disasters or exclusion of medical care. Our teams are formed by tens of thousands or professionals who work in medical and medical care, logistics, administration, communications, qualified trades, all linked to our letter and attending people in need.