Effective screening, isolation, and staff training were some of the key points that a team of Chinese doctors shared with their Nigerian counterparts on how they have managed to contain the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, courtesy of the International Finance Corporation.
The lessons offered Tuesday via a webinar began with a presentation by Jifang Sheng, director of infectious diseases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhenjiang University School of Medicine, (FAHZU) and member of the expert team for COVID-19.
Sheng highlighted effective screening and isolation as key points in managing COVID-19, noting that hospitals must do well to avoid contamination of patients and their families and friends.
“Firstly, each hospital should have well-organised entry and exit procedures and should be particularly careful with pregnant patients,” he said.
He suggested that hospitals must train their staff, including ambulance attendants, while an ambulance must be decontaminated once after each use.
“Doctors should avoid misdiagnosis and hospitals should give enough rest and help to their staff at times like this,” Sheng advised.
Ajibike Oyewumi, director of quality and patient safety at Lagoon Hospital, and a consultant to IFC provided the Nigerian perspective stating that Lagoon was quick to activate its disaster planning which was first tried during the Ebola crisis.
“The hospital has ramped up procurement of personnel protection equipment and does screening of in-coming patients at the entrance while those with fever, chest symptoms and travel history are quickly isolated,” he stated.
He said that Lagoon has provided its expertise to the Lagos State government on the fight against Coronavirus.
Junwei SU, one of the Chinese doctors, in answer to a listener’s question, said it was critical that all Covid-19 sufferers are cared for in isolation in hospital to prevent the spread of the disease.
“COVID-19 is very powerful in transmission and no effort should be spared in isolating and treating patients in designated hospitals to protect the general population,” she said.
Meanwhile, FAHZU has processed about 1,300 Coronavirus patients and has so far recorded no death.
The COVID-19 pandemic is prevalent all over the world. In Africa it has affected about forty-eight out of 54 countries, including Nigeria.
Since Nigeria’s case was reported on 27 February, 2020, the country’s cases have risen to 139 by March 31, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The NCDC says it is tracing over 6,000 people that have contacts with index cases of the novel Coronavirus and has tested about 600 people.
