NAN-HG-2
Training
Jalingo, Jan. 16,2017 (NAN ) The Centre for Initiative and Development (CFID), an NGO in Taraba, on Monday, commenced training of 400 healthcare workers on injection safety to tackle the spread of HIV and viral Hepatitis.
The CFID’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Danjuma Adda, disclosed this in Jalingo at the opening of the training with the theme; “HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness and Education Through Injection Safety Campaigns.”
According to him, beneficiaries of the training are drawn from six council areas of the state namely Sardauna, Kurmi, Takum, Wukari, Ardo-Kola and Zing.
He said that after the training, the beneficiaries were expected to step down what they learnt to no fewer than 15,000 community members in their council areas.
Adda added that under the training programme, 300 persons would benefit from free Hepatitis and HIV screening, while 200 persons would be administered free vaccines for the diseases in the council areas.
He noted that CFID, the state’s Ministry of Health and the state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency would supervise the implementation of the project.
Adda explained that unsafe handling of syringes and needles had always put healthcare workers at risk of contracting the diseases and spreading same to their patients.
He added that poor healthcare waste management systems and apathy in the use of hand gloves among health workers were partly responsible for the spread of the diseases.
He said the NGO’s objective was to reduce the rate of transmission of the blood-borne pathogens among health workers and enhance capacity of the health workers on health waste management.
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, said the abuse of injections had contributed to the spread of the infectious diseases.
Represented by Dr Ebenezer Akpaki, the Director, Public Health of the ministry, Vakkai suggested that injections should be used only when patients could not swallow tablets or when they were in critical conditions.
He added that the ministry would support organisations that were working toward achieving reduction in the spread of the diseases.
Dr Obanus Ezekeil, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency, advised the public to stop visiting herbalists for the cure of Hepatitis and HIV.
He warned that like HIV, Hepatitis could be spread through blood and unsterilised sharp objects. (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu