The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD), Nigeria, is partnering with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to create awareness and training on COVID-19.
The Chairperson of the Guild in Abuja, Dr Chito Nwana, made this disclosure in Abuja at a two-day training organised to create awareness and train private health care workers on COVID-19 nationwide.
The training was facilitated by the Infection, Prevention and Control team of the NCDC and to cover an overview of the epidemiology of COVID-19.
It is also expected to train participants on how to screen all patients as they come to the hospitals, isolate those that raise red flags as well as notify the NCDC of any potential suspect.
She said the training was based on Infection, Prevention and Control guidelines with practical demonstrations including recommended Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE) for COVID-19, laboratory aspects, especially sending samples to the laboratory and some recommended case management of COVID-19.
Nwana said the team of the NCDC would also be training members of the GMD in Lagos and all private healthcare providers.
According to her, in Abuja, about 100 private health care facilities would be trained during the two days, representing nearly 200 selected Infection, Prevention and Control staff members of these centres.
“It is hoped that standard operating procedures will be developed by each private facility all across Nigeria at the end of these training which will continue across the country.
“This will ensure safe healthcare practises to curb the spread of this deadly infection in particular and all other infections in general.
Nwana said GMD, FCT, plans to set up a committee that would assist hospitals to develop protocols or Standard Operating Procedures regarding Infection Prevention & Control.
She said the training goes beyond just the Coronavirus outbreak, saying that it was in line with the guild’s objectives to improve the quality of healthcare and ensure patient safety at private health facilities.
The Deputy Director, Special duties NCDC, Dr Priscilla Ibekwe, said about 50 per cent of Nigerian population patronise private hospital, adding that the training was a reminder of their role to reduce infections within the hospitals.
She said the training will reinforce what the health workers already know and give them an opportunity to re-examine and make sure the workspace is functional to reduce transmitted infections.
The infection Prevention and Control Leader of NCDC, Dr Tochi Okwor advised Nigerians to always verify information on their website on COVID-19, saying there is much incorrect information in the social media.
” NCDC is the national public care institute, it is one source where people can go to get correct information about the virus.
“Every day, we are looking at the country’s situation globally and reassessing the situation and coming up with guideline documents as well as coming up with evidence and the correct situation at hand,” she said.
Okwor advised health workers to maintain high-level standard precautions at their facilities, adding that hygiene was key.
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