Represented by Dr Chinwe Ochu, Director of Prevention Programme and Knowledge Management at the centre, Dr Ihekweazu said hand washing was an effective way of preventing diseases for health workers, patients and the general public. While noting that COVID-19 had further underscored the need for hand washing, he said hand washing facilities or sanitisers needed to be provided at the points of care to ensure safety of health workers and patients. The centre said it launched the “Orange Network” in 2019, a network of dedicated tertiary health facilities in Nigeria supported by NCDC, to become centres of excellence in infection prevention and control.