The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated to us all that the work of Dr Ignaz Semmleweis is as relevant today as it was in his time, some 200 years ago. The Hungarian scientist has made an immeasurable contribution to the prevention of communicable diseases, for example by discovering the paramount importance of proper hygiene conditions in health-care settings. Through his discoveries, he has managed to save countless of lives, earning the epithet ‘the saviour of mothers’. One of his main messages “Wash your hands” is more relevant than ever.
It is no wonder that his legacy and achievements are celebrated to our days. Marking the 200th anniversary of his birth, a statue of Semmelweis was inaugurated at the Geneva Headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019. At the inauguration ceremony, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO lauded the life and work of Semmelweis, naming him ‘a hero of global health’ and stating: ‘In many ways, Ignaz Semmelweis represents the essence of WHO: using evidence to serve people’.
To find out more about the extraordinary achievements of Semmelweis and the connections with fighting COVID-10, please visit the online exhibition made available by the Semmelweis Museum, through the link below:
https://ignazsemmelweis.blog.hu
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