Launch of the pilot site Hospital Nacional de Niños "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera"
On the 8th November 2007, the National Children's Hospital of Costa Rica, launched the active phase of pilot testing. Hospital Nacional de Ninos in San Josè, the official pilot test site of the Americas, has been working with WHO HQ and the Regional Office of the Americas during 2007 to prepare to implement the Five-Step WHO multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy. Present at the launch will be the Minister of Health, Dr Maria Luisa Avila, and by video link from Washington DC, Professor Didier Pittet and Regional Office representatives.