31 Mar 2020

Health workers have been urged to change organisational culture by upholding health standards to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during training of healthcare workers, police and immigration officers in Letlhakane recently, Boteti Head of Clinic sand Health Posts, Ms Batho Rampana said all health equipment should be sanitised before use.

Ms Rampana stated that health machines such as scales, blood pressure machines, thermometers and phone sets should all be sanitised before use, adding that patients’ hands should also be sanitised before checking blood pressure.

She urged health workers to promote single use of equipment if possible, expressing concern that people used dust masks and over a period of time.

Ms Rampana emphasised the importance of working on change of conduct in the workplace, adding that dump dusting and wet mopping was recommended. 

She noted that a mop used in bathrooms and other rooms should not be used in the kitchen. 

Respiratory hygiene, she said, should be upheld and indicated that elbow greeting was not hygienic as people used elbows to cover their mouths and noses while coughing. 

She also cautioned the public against having unprotected contact with animals.

As a move to contain the spread of the virus, Ms Rampana indicated that it was essential to leave uniforms at work during COVID-19, stating that those working in isolation centres would be accommodated at special places and not be allowed to go home. 

She explained that any structure could be turned into an isolation centre, provided precautions were taken. 

She stated that Rakops Health Post, Mmatshumo RADS hostel, Orapa Mine Hospital and Mikelele Lodge had been identified as isolation centres in Boteti. 

She called for use of open spaces, urging health practitioners to encourage patients to use coughing spots.  

In addition, Ms Rampana recommended frequent hand hygiene, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.

Health practitioners were also encouraged to prioritise their clients by attending to those with shortness of breath first and ensure application of standard precautions for all patients.

When commenting, the principal registered nurse, Ms Percia Mmokwa said although there was an outbreak of COVID-19, it was crucial to continue operating the child welfare clinic, citing that early medical seeking of children was already a challenge.

Ms Mmokwa expressed concern that there was no close assessment of children’s health condition, citing the need to track diseases on children such as malnutrition.

She said an open spot could be used for Child Welfare Clinic and numbers could be reduced.

In response, Ms Rampana said Child Welfare Clinic was not meant to check the children’s body mass only, but was essential in maintaining and keeping record of the child’s health. ends