Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has issued a circular to ask health workers, patients and their relatives to wash their hands before going to hospitals, state media reported Monday. The ministry also requested hospitals to supervise the implementation of the circular beginning from early December, state media reported Dec. 15. The move aims to reduce the spread of infectious diseases in hospitals and raise awareness of people in washing hands as unwashed hand contact is considered as the most dangerous way to spread diseases. Under the circular, hospitals will set up more sinks, attach hand-wash guides and improve their inspection of anti-infection work. Hand-washing can reduce diarrhea cases by 35% and respiratory diseases by 19%-45%, the ministry’s Department of Preventive Health Medicine said.
