World Hand Hygiene Day marked at Seabreeze Mental Health Facility, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

World Hand Hygiene Day was celebrated recently at Seabreeze, Dungarvan, where a stand promoting the HSE’s national "Resist" campaign was in operation on the day.

This annual World Health Organisation awareness event is an opportunity to highlight to all staff, visitors, patients, partners and family members, the importance of hand hygiene in helping prevent the spread of infection.

Evidence tells us that good hand hygiene remains the single most important, effective and least expensive means of reducing the prevalence of healthcare associated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

The HSE Dublin and South East Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Nursing Team and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Team organised the stand. “Resist” is a brand for several hand hygiene and infection prevention and control initiatives under the HSE’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Programme (AMRIC). The stand featured a hand hygiene glow box, which is an interactive tool to promote and demonstrate correct hand hygiene technique.

Pamela Landers (Clinical Nurse Specialist in IPC, HSE) said:

“Cleaning your hands properly, at the correct time, when delivering care to our clients, as well as assisting them to carry out their own, is the most effective way to stop the spread of many infections. When healthcare workers like doctors, nurses and carers keep their hands clean, they help prevent the spread of serious healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). These are infections that can happen in any healthcare service.”

Built at a cost of €6.4 million, developed on a stand-alone 1.9 acre site and officially opened last year, Seabreeze is a high support community residence in the HSE Dublin and South East’s mental health services and aims to enhance the personal autonomy of adults with enduring mental illness and to enable those individual to lead as fulfilling a life as possible. Seabreeze was nominated in the healthcare projects category of the Irish Building and Design Awards 2025. Seabreeze comprises of two blocks hosting 10 en-suite single bedrooms and two apartments, with an adjoining third block featuring communal facilities and administrative offices.

Willie Browne (Clinical Nurse Manager 2, Seabreeze) added:

“Seabreeze has an excellent record in hand hygiene but we are always looking to improve our standards. The Resist programme, which we are highlighting here helps us to refresh and energise our hand hygiene approach among staff and clients. As a programme, RESIST is not just aimed at those delivering care, but at everyone who comes into a healthcare facility, including clients and visitors.”

“Our message on World Hand Hygiene Day is that some infections found in healthcare facilities can be very serious. We can all help stop the spread of these infections by making sure that staff, clients and visitors clean their hands.”