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Ebola health workers' training workshop

10 September 2014
On 2 September 2014, the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, a PSI affiliate held a one-day training the trainers’ workshop, together with a formal launch of the WHO Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus Haemorrhagic Fever in Health-Care Settings, with Focus on Ebola in Nigeria (find link below). Brother Ayuba Wabba, National President of the union, addressed the workshop participants.

“I welcome you all, from across the length and breadth of our great country Nigeria, on this matter of urgent national disquiet, which is the curbing of the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease. As citizens, we are and indeed should be concerned with the worrisome waves this dreaded scourge is making. As health workers, being the first line of defence of the national response, we are doubly so concerned.

This is the reason why our great union, Medical and Health Workers’ Union which has distinguished itself as a leading pro-active union that places the defence of membership at the top of its priority list, as well as the challenge of building an effective national health care system is organising this national workshop today.

Before going further, there is every need to commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and particularly the President of the Federation, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and the Honourable Minster of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu for the apt and appropriate efforts made so far in establishing a robust national response.

We never shy away from pointing out when things are going wrong, particularly in defence of our members’ rights. We should therefore also not shy away from saying “well done” when government and its functionaries are taking the right steps. So we say “kudos”, even as we once more elaborate on how these right steps could be consolidated on, by all of us.

UNDERSTANDING EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE

Due largely to the efforts of the Federal and some State governments which we alluded to above in the wake of the index case of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, there is now a great deal of knowledge on the characteristics and modes of transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease in the public domain.

It is important to stress the fact that EVD’s early symptoms are very much like those of non-haemorrhagic fevers like malaria and typhoid. This calls for both increased care in tackling these fevers which are relatively endemic in our environment, while eschewing stigmatisation and discrimination in providing health care services.   

It has been established that the main mode of transmission of the disease is through uninfected persons contact with the blood or body fluids of infected persons, their remains or surfaces contaminated with such infected fluids. This is particularly so where the uninfected persons has broken skin or mucous membrane, but could also be through skin pores.

THE SPREAD OF EVD AND THE HEALTH CARE WORKER

The virulence of the Ebola Virus Disease is such that it is estimated that 90% of infected cases could result in fatality, especially when prompt treatment is not taken. It is thus of the utmost importance that priority be given to prevention and control.

Thus far, 2,615 persons have been infected out of which 1,427 have died. Health care workers are particularly vulnerable due to the nature of healthcare delivery as attested to by the World Health Organisation. Indeed, more than 240 health care workers have become infected across West Africa since the advent of this, the deadliest outbreak ever of the disease. Unfortunately, half of them, 120 health care workers, have died.

In Sierra Leone for example, three doctors and 37 other health professionals have been killed by the infection, as stated in the recently press release of the World Health Organisation entitled “Unprecedented number of medical staff infected with Ebola”.

In Nigeria, three of the five reported casualties of the disease thus far have been health care providers. The need for protection, action and solidarity by and with health workers has never been more pressing, which is why the theme of this workshop is Fighting Ebola Together: Protection, Action, Solidarity.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETYY AND HEALTH: THE CHALLENGE OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS

With this realisation, the World Health Organisation has issued a booklet entitled: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for the Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus Haemorrhagic Fever in Health-care Settings, with Focus on Ebola, in August 2014. And on the heels of this, as well, on August 28, it also rolled out the Ebola Response Roadmap.

In these documents, the WHO notes the alarming ways in which the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD or “Ebola”) continues to evolve. And it particularly stresses the critical place of health care workers in curtailing the spread of the disease and the need for them to be very well protected to be able to do this safely and effectively.

While all health workers are at risk and should safeguard against infection, there are some workers that are even more at risk due to the higher probability of their coming in contact with patients included those that might be infected with the Ebola virus. These include: medical laboratory technicians and technologists; health information officers; laundry attendants and assistants; ward aides, orderlies and other health care workers providing nursing care; and clinicians.

There is every need for extra care to be taken by these workers and indeed all health care workers. The WHO guidance booklet will be of immense value for this, which is why we are making copies available to all state councils and branches of the union. The booklet must be available to all our members.

We also seize this opportunity to call on governments at all levels for improved funding of healthcare delivery. Gloves, face masks and other protective personal equipment can be aptly used only when they are readily available in adequate quantities and quality. We equally call for governments at all levels to follow the steps taken by the Federal Government in immediately recruiting 400 health care workers to boost the port health system. There is a dire need for more health care workers to be employed for us to wage a concerted war against Ebola and for improved health care delivery in Nigeria.

CONCLUSION

Comrades, colleagues and friends, what we face in Nigeria and indeed across West Africa and the world at large is a public health emergency of the most horrendous proportion. No act is too great to win this war against the Ebola virus.

We must be forthright and protect ourselves to ensure victory. As unionists, we are used to struggle. This struggle is for us all and for the survival of our loved ones and fellow citizens.

As we face the battle to curb and stop Ebola, we must and will do this with love. Stigmatisation is not an option, protection, action and solidarity, is the way forward.

Thank you."

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