International Infection Prevention Week: 18th–24th October 2026
Introduction: Global health commemorative days and scientific conferences provide platforms to raise awareness about priority public health issues and to share evidence for action. The October–December quarter includes days dedicated to mental health, breast cancer, infection prevention, pneumonia, diabetes, antimicrobial resistance and HIV, alongside national, professional and continental scientific conferences among others. These occasions offer governments, institutions, partners, communities and individuals an opportunity to strengthen advocacy, improve public understanding, and promote actions that contribute to better health outcomes.
Out of every 100 patients in acute-care hospitals, about seven in high-income countries and 15 in low- and middle-income countries acquire at least one health care-associated infection.
International Infection Prevention Week is observed during the third week of October to highlight the role of infection prevention and control (IPC) in protecting patients, health workers and communities. About one in ten patients who acquire a health care-associated infection die, and World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 70% of these infections can be prevented through good IPC practices, including hand hygiene, safe injection practices, environmental cleaning and appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Uganda’s recent outbreaks, including the Sudan virus disease outbreak in 2025 and the ongoing Ebola response, have shown that sustained IPC practices in health facilities protect health workers and help prevent onward transmission. Health facility managers, health workers, patients and caregivers are encouraged to make IPC part of every encounter in care.
Authors: Winfred Nakaweesi1*, Allan Amandu1, Robert Masamba Namisi2, Irene Ayaa1
Institutional affiliation: 1Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program-Laboratory Leadership Program; Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
*Correspondence: Email: wnakaweesi@uniph.go.ug; Tel: +256774572807
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