LDr Solomon Chollom, a virologist, has observed that healthcare facilities ought to be infections prevention control compliant to mitigate the spread of infections.
Chollom, a pioneer National Secretary, Society for Scientists in Infectious Diseases (SSID) in Nigeria, made the call on Monday in Jos during a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to him, it has become important for caregivers to comply with the infections prevention control procedures to ensure that the healthcare facilities would be safe for patients and healthcare givers.
He noted that as the world “is battling with highly contagious infections” such as the SARS and COVID virus, among others, health workers must adhere strictly to infection control procedures.
The virologist further called for a holistic audit of the infections prevention control infrastructure in the country’s healthcare facilities.
He expressed concern that most healthcare facilities in Nigeria either had no institution-based health and safety policy framework or lack the capacity to implement the policy conscientiously.
According to him, health facilities must ensure full implementation of infection prevention control and have vanguards to monitor compliance
The virologist further said that waste management in healthcare facilities should be handled by qualified professionals to avoid transmission of infections.
“Waste in most healthcare facilities in the country are handled and managed by those with the least qualification to handle which poses a huge health risk.
“The practice of having people’s without the least qualifications in the hospitals to handle and manage biomedical waste is unprofessional,” he said.
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