JEDDAH: The Ministry of Health has issued a circular to all health sector employees to ensure they sterilize their hands prior to dealing with patients.

The circular, issued by Deputy Minister for Public Health Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdullah bin Saeed, is in line with a fatwa of Grand Mufi Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh which stresses the duty of all health workers to take necessary measures to ensure their hands are sterile.

According to the fatwa, failure to do so is considered sinful, as one must ensure that they take necessary measures not to harm themselves or others.

In the circular, the deputy minister said the objectives of the ministry is to change the world culture of employees for the better, and to deepen religious and moral attitudes toward self-monitoring among health practitioners.

According to Al-Asheikh, Shariah calls for work that benefits humans in this life and the next, and prevent the spread of disease from other person to the next, even if this involves confining patients until they recover.

Those who harm fellow believers, dead or alive, and in any shape or form, has disobeyed Allah, he added, and thus all doctors and health practitioners must take necessary steps that prevent the spread of disease either to themselves or others.