The reviews are glowing for “Dr. Semmelweis,” a play about a remarkable 19th century Hungarian physician who is now considered a giant in hygiene health. His insistence on requiring hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics led to dramatic decreases in mortality from puerperal fever—also known as childbed fever—among mothers giving birth. The play, at London’s […]
A lack of running water in homes, inadequate hand hygiene services in health care facilities, and a lack of information on the need for basic hygiene practices are just some of the challenges low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—including many in Africa—face when it comes to hygiene. These deficits have significant health ramifications and stand in […]
The CLEAN Briefing Paper, the output of an expert consultation to identify research priorities for environmental cleaning in healthcare facilities, has been coordinated and published by RGHI Fellow, Giorgia Gon.
This month world leaders will convene for the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland; an annual event that hygiene experts say has thus far failed to adequately include and address hygiene.
“Clean your hands, it’ll save lives;” that’s the message the World Health Organization is sharing this World Hand Hygiene Day, but hygiene experts say that remains difficult for millions of healthcare workers who operate in environments that don’t have clean water and soap.
New research published in The Lancet reinforces the idea that handwashing outside of pandemic times is vital in order to reduce the burden of common colds and flu in low- and middle-income countries. Analysis of studies involving 160,000 people across three continents reinforces message that handwashing is not just for pandemics.
Half of young women and people who menstruate in Victoria, Australia surveyed have tried a reusable menstrual product— such as menstrual cups, recyclable pads and period pants — but education, product support, and bathroom facilities are still too focused on single-use items, according to new research.
The Marburg virus is the latest in a string of deadly diseases that are putting the health of entire populations at risk. While scientists scramble to find efficacious vaccines for a virus that’s part of the Ebola family, experts say hygiene practices remain among the most effective methods of prevention.
The Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute hosted an information session and live Q&A on its International Collaboration Award (ICA) grant on 29th March 2023. The ICA grant will support research institutions to work in partnership to develop innovative solutions to improve hygiene practices. The aim of the ICA is to support equitable research partnerships that produce […]
The 2023 theme for the World Health Organization’s World Health Day on April 7th was “achieving health for all.” The United Nations agency, along with the Pan American Health Organization, took the day to look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life since the WHO’s inception 75 years ago. Whilst there are many to celebrate, experts say progress has been limited because of a repeated failure to invest in hygiene and that that will continue to be the case unless something changes.