Background As part of a major global effort to improve hand hygiene in health care, led by World Health Organisation (WHO) to support health-care workers, the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands annual global campaign was launched in 2009. Every year, May 5 is being celebrated as the World Hand Hygiene Day. Theme for 2026 - Action saves lives. A large proportion of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery could still be prevented with hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC) action at the right times. This provides a high return on investment for health systems and countries. In this 18th year of the WHO world hand hygiene day, we call on those providing and supporting health care to refresh their action on hand hygiene and IPC to ensure patient and health worker safety. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) affect health systems every day and are a daily threat to patients in every health care setting, including during public health emergencies. They contribute to the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) burden, cause immense suffering to patients, families and health workers, premature deaths and disability, higher health care costs and hamper efforts to achieve high-quality care for all. Hand hygiene and IPC best practices are also affected by the built environment including lack of water, sanitation, waste management and hygiene (WASH), which also impact equity and dignity among both those providing and receiving care. In 2026 IPC action including hand hygiene, is critical now more than ever. Campaign objectives Promote optimal hand hygiene practices (using the appropriate technique and according to the WHO 5 Moments) within the health care workflow. Promote inclusion of hand hygiene within national IPC action plans, as well as standard operating procedures (SOPs) at facility level, according to the recommendations of the WHO Global action plan and monitoring framework indicators and targets to be achieved incrementally by 2030. Raise awareness that one of the WHO global action plan and monitoring framework indicators on IPC is hand hygiene compliance monitoring and feedback, to be established as a key national indicator, at the very least in all reference hospitals by 2026. Health care-associated infections (HAIs) continue to be a daily potential threat to patients in every hospital and clinic, including during public health emergencies, while, infection prevention and control (IPC) and hand hygiene action provide a high return on investment within health system expenditure and have a significant positive effect on health outcomes for all countries. A WHO indicator to be met by all countries is, hand hygiene compliance monitoring and feedback to be established in all reference hospitals at least, by 2026. Access to resources can be a key challenge and requires IPC leadership and commitment. Adequate provisions, to achieve clean hands, means access to uninterrupted supplies, including water and soap, clean towels, and alcohol-based handrub, alongside education and training and other interventions. Source : WHO