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Under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Omar Sherif Omar, Secretary of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals, and as part of its steadfast commitment to supporting the healthcare system and reinforcing concepts of quality and patient safety within medical institutions, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, headed by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Director of the Institute and Chairman of the Board, hosted and participated in the “Hand Hygiene Annual Festival,” organized by the Supreme Council of University Hospitals. The event coincided with the celebration of World Hand Hygiene Day and witnessed broad participation from academic and medical leaders, infection control experts, representatives of the World Health Organization, and university hospitals.

The event was supervised by Dr. Ghada Ismail, Advisor to the Secretary of the Supreme Council of University Hospitals for Infection Control and Prevention Affairs and Regional Coordinator of the ICAN Network in Northern Egypt, with the participation of Dr. Hala Badawy, Supervisor of the Infection Control Unit and Professor Emeritus in the Institute’s Microbiology Department. This reflected the importance of unifying institutional and scientific efforts to spread infection control awareness and elevate preventive practices within healthcare facilities.

The event witnessed distinguished and extensive attendance, bringing together an elite group of university hospital directors, medical professors, infection control experts, medical and nursing staff, as well as specialists and professionals interested in quality, patient safety, and preventive healthcare.

The event also witnessed the honoring of Professor Dr. Hala Badawy by the Higher Committee for Infection Control at University Hospitals, awarding her the title of Hand Hygiene Champion 2026 in recognition of her outstanding contributions and remarkable efforts in supporting and promoting hand hygiene practices and spreading the culture of infection prevention and control within healthcare institutions.

In addition, the Infection Control Team at Theodor Bilharz Research Institute was honored in recognition of their distinguished efforts and active role in strengthening and implementing the highest standards of infection prevention and control within the institute. The recognition included Dr. Manar Zeitoun, Head of the Infection Control Unit; Dr. Dina Eid, member of the Infection Control Team; as well as the nursing staff members Ms. Nadia Ali Kamel, Ms. Doaa Adel, Ms. Asmaa Fawzy, and Ms. Nadia Ahmed Salman.

This recognition came as a culmination of the institute’s remarkable achievement in receiving the Excellence Award among university hospitals in the field of hand hygiene, in appreciation of the tangible progress and outstanding performance it demonstrated, along with its effective commitment to implementing quality standards, patient safety measures, and infection control practices in accordance with the latest approved standards.

In his opening speech, Abdel Aziz welcomed the attendees and emphasized that the Institute’s hosting and participation in this event stem from its deep belief that prevention represents the first line of defense in protecting patients and healthcare workers. He noted that promoting a culture of adherence to hand hygiene practices is one of the most important strategic pillars for reducing healthcare-associated infections and enhancing the efficiency of the healthcare system.

He further stressed that research and medical institutions are now required to play a role that extends beyond providing therapeutic services to include building health awareness and establishing safe practices based on scientific evidence. He pointed out that real investment in the healthcare sector begins with adopting a culture of prevention and adherence to international infection control standards, given their direct impact on healthcare quality and human safety.

The event sessions included several important scientific and awareness-oriented topics, including the latest global strategies for enhancing compliance with hand hygiene practices within healthcare institutions, the role of continuous awareness and training in reducing infection rates, mechanisms for implementing infection control standards in university hospitals and research centers, and presentations of international best practices in patient safety and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.

The festival also featured educational and interactive presentations demonstrating the correct methods of handwashing and hand sanitization according to World Health Organization guidelines, while emphasizing the importance of adherence to preventive practices as a collective responsibility that contributes to protecting both patients and healthcare workers.

The Institute’s hosting and participation in this event align with its vision of supporting the integration of scientific research with medical practice and community awareness, as well as its continuous commitment to actively participating in initiatives and activities that contribute to the development of Egypt’s healthcare system and the promotion of preventive health concepts.

The festival concluded with a renewed emphasis on the importance of continued cooperation among academic, medical, and research institutions to spread infection control culture, achieve the highest standards of quality and patient safety, and build a safer and more sustainable healthcare future.