Primary Health Care Corporation Strengthens Community Protection Through International Infection Prevention Week Campaign

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will organise International Infection Prevention Week activities from 18 to 24 October under the theme "Infection Prevention Across Generations: Past, Present, and Protection".

The theme embodies the journey of infection prevention through time, from inherited practices and lessons learned from the past to contemporary scientific applications and the protection of patients, workers, the community and future generations.

The campaign's organising committee identified several key objectives, including raising awareness among healthcare sector workers and visitors about essential infection prevention and control practices. It also aims to promote adherence to hand hygiene, cough etiquette, environmental disinfection and other everyday practices, while highlighting the Islamic civilisational and medical heritage of infection prevention and connecting it with modern practices.

Other objectives include encouraging healthcare workers to adopt a culture of epidemiological surveillance and early reporting of infection cases, as well as providing engaging and accessible awareness content for all groups at health centres and through social media.

Dr Khalid Elawad, Health Protection Manager at PHCC, said infection prevention and control is a fundamental pillar of patient safety and healthcare quality. He noted that PHCC's participation in the global occasion helps spread awareness messages within health centres and among staff, patients and visitors, while encouraging the adoption of preventive practices in daily life.

Elawad added that infection prevention is not a modern concept but a journey extending throughout history. Practices have evolved from an emphasis on cleanliness, isolation and avoiding sources of infection into an integrated, evidence-based system that protects individuals and communities. He said this journey depends on simple, essential practices that have proven effective in limiting infection transmission, while vaccination is one of the leading achievements in preventing infectious diseases and adherence to recommended vaccinations remains an important measure for protecting individuals and the community.

Regarding PHCC's infection control services, Elawad said the Corporation applies an integrated infection prevention and control programme across its facilities. It covers standard precautions, hand hygiene, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, safe injection practices, environmental cleaning and disinfection, the safe handling of waste, and continuous education for staff, patients and visitors.

Elawad said PHCC health centres will participate in International Infection Prevention Week through a varied programme of awareness and interactive activities aimed at staff, patients, visitors, school students and recipients of home healthcare services.

Activities will include lectures, short workshops, educational competitions, daily presentations in waiting areas, designated spaces for educational materials and publications, and interactive activities encouraging preventive behaviour. Activities will also be conducted with the School Health Department to reach students and in coordination with Home Healthcare Services to raise awareness among patients and their families at home.

The programme will feature daily awareness messages linked to the components of the 2026 theme. Materials will be displayed on screens at health centres, in corridors and in waiting areas, alongside Arabic and English awareness cards distributed through PHCC's official channels and social media platforms in coordination with the Corporate Communications and Public Relations team. PHCC staff will receive daily emails, while patients and visitors will be surveyed about the activities to measure the campaign's impact and use their feedback to develop future awareness initiatives.

Source: QNA

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