A word from the ICAN Chair

Dear ICAN members and fellow Africans,

Thousands of people around the world die every day from infections acquired while receiving health care, infections of this type are known as healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).  This type of infection is particularly prevalent in low to middle income countries. Frequently HCAIs are caused by bacteria which are resistant to many types of antibiotics.   In these cases there are limited antibiotic treatment options available which can ultimately can result in the patients death.  We all know that hands of healthcare workers are the main route of germ transmission in these environments. Hand hygiene is THE most important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs and prevent health care-associated infections.

THEME FOR 2017 – FIGHTING ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE- IT IS IN YOUR HANDS.

ICAN supports the WHO 5 May campaign and urges you to focus on the fight against antibiotic resistance in the context of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes. The more the healthcare facilities that register the darker orange the country on the WHO map becomes.  Go the WHO website and register your healthcare facility so lets

TURN AFRICA ORANGE!

More information on ICAN’s support to Turn Africa Orange can be found here

All available WHO campaign resources can be found here