The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will organise a series of activities from October 18 to 24, 2026, to mark International Infection Prevention Week (IPW). The event will be held under the theme “Generations of Infection Prevention | Past. Present. Protected.”, which highlights the historical evolution of infection prevention practices, from traditional methods to modern scientific approaches aimed at safeguarding patients, healthcare workers, and communities.
The campaign aims to raise awareness among healthcare personnel and visitors about the importance of fundamental infection prevention and control measures. Key objectives include promoting hand hygiene, cough etiquette, environmental disinfection, and other routine practices essential to reducing infection risks. The organisers also plan to link the rich heritage of Islamic medical civilisation to contemporary infection prevention techniques.
Dr Khalid Elawad, Manager of Health Protection at PHCC, stressed the critical role of infection prevention and control in ensuring patient safety and maintaining healthcare quality. He noted that PHCC’s involvement in the global campaign helps disseminate crucial awareness messages across its health centres to employees, patients, and visitors, encouraging the integration of preventive behaviours into everyday life.
Dr Elawad emphasized that infection prevention is not a novel concept but a continuous historical journey. Early practices focused on hygiene, isolation, and avoiding infection sources, which have since developed into evidence-based systems designed to protect individuals and communities from infectious diseases.
PHCC operates a comprehensive infection prevention and control programme that covers all its facilities. This includes adherence to standard precautions such as proper hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe injection techniques, environmental cleaning and disinfection, and safe management of medical waste. The programme also involves continuous education efforts aimed at healthcare workers, patients, and visitors.
During International Infection Prevention Week, PHCC health centres will host a variety of educational and interactive activities for staff, patients, visitors, school students, and recipients of Home Health Care Services. These will include lectures, workshops, competitions, daily informational presentations in waiting areas, and dedicated educational corners. Collaborative efforts with the School Health Department and Home Health Care Services will help extend the campaign’s reach to students and patients’ families, both in educational settings and home environments.