Ogun State, Nigeria, What is one of the simplest, yet most powerful tools in preventing infections and keeping patients safe? Good hand hygiene!

Last week, APIN Public Health Initiatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Ogun State Ministry of Health, officially launched the MeMo-I (Mentor, Motivate, Improve) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) mentorship programme across selected healthcare facilities in Ogun State.

The MeMo-I initiative is built on insights from the NCDC’s Point Prevalence Survey and key takeaways from ongoing engagements and workshops with health workers across Nigeria. Its core aim? To improve IPC practices starting with strengthening hand hygiene culture across facility-based care settings.

“Clean hands save lives. From nurses and doctors to patients, families, and communities, practicing good hand hygiene helps protect everyone,” said a representative from APIN. “With MeMo-I, we’re reinforcing this fundamental practice while supporting the development of safer, cleaner, and more resilient health systems.”

Through tailored mentorship and hands-on support, the MeMo-I programme is helping health facilities adopt and sustain hygiene best practices, empowering healthcare workers to become champions of infection prevention.

As part of its commitment to public health, APIN will continue working with supported facilities to ensure that clean hands become second nature building a future where every patient encounter begins with safety and dignity.