In light of recent developments, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has implored healthcare professionals to rigorously observe Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) regulations while attending to patients with Mpox. This plea underlines the necessity of preventing further proliferation of the virus. The organization’s director-general, Dr. Jide Idris, made this exigency apparent during a press briefing in Abuja, emphasizing the importance of healthcare workers’ safety in parallel to patient care. He stated, ‘In the process of caring for patients with Mpox, your personal safety should also be given top priority. Your wellbeing is as crucial as that of your patients.’
Mpox, a viral malaise resulting from the Monkeypox virus, is principally transmitted through close contact with infected persons or contaminated material, as well as via respiratory secretion. It manifests as fever, swollen glands, body ache, and a rash that metamorphoses into painful lesions. The recent uptick in suspected and confirmed Mpox incidences in specific regions across Nigeria has prompted concerns about the potential for intra-healthcare facility transmissions.
As a responsive action, the director-general beckoned upon medical centers to ramp up their IPC strategies, fortifying the safety of both healthcare providers and their patients. Dr. Idris outlined a number of indispensable safety measures for health workers:
Adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) use involving gloves, masks, face shields, and gowns whilst attending to patients; consistent hand hygiene practice either through regular hand washing with soap and water or the utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizers; safe handling of patients by averting direct contact with body fluids and the incorporation of barrier nursing techniques; thorough sanitization of hospital environments and equipment to prevent contamination; and early identification of suspected cases and subsequent isolation to stem further transmission of the virus.
To assuage concerns, Dr. Idris assures the Nigerian populace of NCDC’s relentless monitoring of the Mpox situation and its dedication to providing routine feedback as well as technical backing to health facilities. He implores all healthcare providers to stay alert, promptly report suspected cases and personally seek medical care if they start presenting symptoms of Mpox, while advocating for public enlightenment on preventing infection through avoiding close contact with infected individuals and maintaining good hygiene practices.
As an ongoing part of their response to this crisis, the agency continues networking with state health institutions, providing healthcare workers education and augmenting laboratory competency for Mpox diagnosis. According to Idris, curtailing Mpox’s spread necessitates communal effort from healthcare staff and the larger public. He urged Nigerians to be vigilant, adhere strictly to public health recommendations and buttress endeavors to confine the virus. ‘For additional information and latest updates, healthcare workers and the public are urged to patronize NCDC’s official website or follow verified social media platforms,’ stated Dr. Idris.
Source: https://sciencenigeria.com/mpox-care-follow-safety-measures-ncdc-urges-healthcare-workers/