The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a warning to healthcare workers and institutions regarding the misuse of gloves, cautioning that improper use can turn gloves into sources of contamination rather than protection.
Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the NCDC, Dr. Tochi Okwor made this statement in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. She pointed out a widespread and dangerous misconception in healthcare settings that wearing gloves replaces the need for proper hand hygiene.
“Let us be clear,” she said, “gloves are not a substitute for clean hands when used incorrectly. Whether it’s failing to change gloves between patients, using them for non-clinical tasks, or skipping hand hygiene before and after use, such practices can cause more harm than good.”
Okwor emphasized that this caution aligns with Nigeria’s broader infection prevention strategies, particularly the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Strategic Action Plan and the Second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2024–2028). Both policies underscore the importance of glove stewardship, promoting evidence-based and responsible use in clinical settings.
Highlighting progress made by Nigeria in infection prevention and control, she noted that the NCDC has achieved significant milestones through initiatives such as the Turn Nigeria Orange (TNO) movement. Launched in 2019, TNO is a national campaign designed to strengthen IPC standards in healthcare facilities under the guiding principle of “One Nation, One Plan.”
She also spoke about the Orange Network a group of selected healthcare facilities across the country that serve as national models for integrating infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and quality improvement practices.
According to Okwor, over 393 IPC professionals have been trained and certified to lead quality improvement efforts in healthcare facilities across Nigeria. Additionally, a dedicated national budget line for IPC has been established, currently supporting more than 150 facility-level IPC programmes nationwide.
She further revealed that healthcare-associated infection surveillance systems are now in place, enabling real-time detection, monitoring, and response to infections within healthcare settings another step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding patient and healthcare worker safety.
