Dear reader,

For the third year in a row now, 5 May will be ‘World Hand Hygiene Day’ – a global call to action by the WHO to further improve hand hygiene, around the world. We know well that every healthcare professional is aware of the importance to protect his/her hands. Still, surveys in the field keep revealing a lack of compliance, for numerous reasons.

Our special focus in this InTouch is, therefore, on educational initiatives for correct hand hygiene and proper hand protection. Learn about the challenges and read in an interview how a Belgian University College has published a guideline for the correct use of non-sterile examination gloves in hospital as well as non-hospital environments. 

That clear communications, guidelines and training are crucial to ensure the best-quality healthcare, is illustrated in the article about EORNA’s 6th European Day of Perioperative Nursing. Caroline Higgins, EORNA’s president, highlights the importance to urgently implement a minimum basic level of education and a credit-based continuous education system at EU level.

Besides guidelines and continuous education, high-quality products too, are a prerequisite for high healthcare standards. This InTouch zooms in on Ansell’s Micro-Touch® range of examination gloves, including two highly protective, yet comfortable newcomers: the Micro-Touch® Nitrile Accelerator-Free and the Micro-Touch® Premium. Last but not least, don’t miss our viewpoint on the recently amended European EN455-2 standard on force-at-break values,

One last thing before you start reading: let me introduce myself to those readers who don’t know me yet. Since July 2010, I have been appointed Senior Vice-President and Regional Director for the EMEA Region. I am replacing Werner Heintz who is the new head of the Industrial Solutions Global Business Unit.

I am enthusiastic about helping Ansell fulfill its mission to better protect people around the world. So don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or opinions. It will inspire us to improve our solutions and/or services in order to further raise hand protection levels. Glad to meet you!

Peter Dobbelsteijn
Vice-President and Regional Director, EMEA Region