The Union health ministry on Friday issued guidelines on measures to be adopted by healthcare workers deployed in COVID and non-COVID areas of hospitals.
According to the advisory, the ministry asked health care facilities to activate their Hospital Infection Control Committee (HICC), which responsible for implementing the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) activities and organizing regular training on IPC for its workers.
A Nodal Officer (Infection Control Officer) shall be identified by each hospital to address all matters related to Healthcare-Associated Infections(HAIs), it said.
With reference to preventing such infection among the health care workers, the nodal officer will ensure that health care workers in different settings of hospital shall use PPEs appropriate to their risk profile as detailed in the guidelines issued by ministry.
The advisory states, “All health care workers have undergone training on Infection Prevention and Control and they are aware of common signs and symptoms, need for self-health monitoring and need for prompt reporting of such symptoms.”
“Provisions have been made for regular thermal screening of all hospital staff. All healthcare workers managing COVID-19 are being provided with chemo-prophylaxis under medical supervision. Provision have been made for prompt reporting of breach of PPE by hospital staff and followup action.”
Ensure all preventive measures like frequent washing of hands/use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, respiratory etiquettes etc. He or she shall use appropriate PPE all times while on duty.
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