The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has tasked health practitioners to abide by strict protocols on disposable glove use in hospitals.
With the growing awareness of glove misuse, health facilities are expected to reduce environmental harm while safeguarding staff and patients.
Disposable gloves, though essential for infection control, also contribute significantly to medical waste when misused.
A study in some health facilities in the Ashanti Region indicated that glove use in non-sterile procedures keeps escalating waste volumes.
Regional Health Director, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng at an event to mark the region’s Handwashing Day highlighted the need to reserve gloves for high-risk tasks.
“It is not every time that you need gloves. The moment you use a glove; it becomes a medical waste. Treatment of a medical waste comes with a high cost and environmental harm. That is why we are saying that, as prescribers we have an appropriate use of gloves, and we must do so accordingly,” he said.
The Health Directorate stressed on the need to be intentional in managing gloves usage, emphasizing that reducing medical waste starts with mindful glove use.
The theme for the Handwashing Day 2025 is “It might be gloves. It’s always hand hygiene” highlights the importance of hand hygiene, emphasizing that gloves alone are not a replacement for washing hands, especially in healthcare, food service, and cleaning industries, as gloves can be misused and potentially spread germs.
The theme underscores the critical need for countries to enhance and rigorously implement infection prevention and control measures, in line with the WHO’s Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework.
