Lokoja
As the world battles Coronavirus pandemic, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi chapter, has urged its members and the general public to heed the advice of the government and healthcare providers on preventive measures against the spread of the disease.
The Chairman of the chapter,Dr Kabiru Zubair, gave the advice in lokoja during the sensitisation programme the chapter organised for the members as parts of activities marking its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM).
Duaglobalnews, an online medium, reports that members were lectured on measures to be taken to protect them from contracting the novel corona virus (COVID-19) and other infectious diseases while treating patients.
In his lecture, Dr Busayo Agbana, Public Health Physician, Kogi State University Medical Centre, Anyigba, said it was important to educate the doctors since they always have direct contact with patients.
Agbana urged the doctors and other healthcare providers to always be conscious of the concept of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) having to do with universal, standard precautions and infection prevention control.
According to him, PPE simply means those things that health workers need to use to prevent transmission of infection disease;either from patients to them or from the environment to their body.
He stressed that healthcare workers should understand that every patient remains a potential source of infection, and as such, they should have a high index of suspicion.
”You must have your gogle, overhead gear, apron, face mask, gloves and boot; all these PPE have been proven effective, if it is used effectively to prevent contamination.
”In addition, doctors should practice good hand hygiene by constantly washing their hands in a running water with soap at least, every 30 minutes, which would effectively reduce the risk of carrying the virus,” he said
Agbana also emphasised the importance of social distancing of about six feet, use of hand sanitisers available in different sizes, but insisted that hand washing remains the most effective in preventing infectious diseases.
He urged the general public to practice good respiratory etiquettee by sneezing or coughing into tissue paper and dispose it, or by coughing or sneezing into the elbow.
The expert further who advised the general public to avoid panic, commended the Federal and State governments for the steps taken so far in reducing the spread of the corona virus disease outbreak in the country.
Also speaking, Dr Bernard Ododo, Head of Clinical Services (HCS), Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja lauded Kogi State Government for carrying FMC Lokoja along in its efforts to guard against the outbreak of lassa fever and corona virus.
Ododo noted that the hospital had been having frequent meetings with stakeholders in the state, and commended the State Ministry of Health for assisting FMCL with PPE doctors and other health workers used in attending to patients with infectious diseases.
He enjoined the people to practice frequent hand washing, and use of alcohol-based sanitisers, saying doing that alone would prevent the infection,almost 80 to 90 per cent.
He urged the state government through the Ministry of health to hasten the ongoing construction of the Isolation Tent at FMC Lokoja and fully equip it.
