Health workers warned against mistreating patients

Occupational burnout, fatigue and stigma must not make health workers mistreat their parents cautioned Dr Veronica Griffith, Deputy Director of Regional and Clinical Services (RHS), according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Health.

Speaking at yesterday’s one-day symposium for Regional Health and Executive Officers (RHOs and REOs) and top Municipal officials, Dr Griffith said despite currently working under increasing pressure because of global COVID-19 outbreak, local health workers must “treat patients with respect, compassion and dignity (and) maintain patient confidentiality.”

The seminar organised by the Ministry of Public Health was held to help sharpen the understanding and response capabilities of RHOs, REOs and heads of Municipalities to the coronavirus sweeping the globe.

The release said that Ministry of Public Health officials are trying to track down some 200 persons who travelled on flights with the woman and her daughter who left JFK International Airport in New York bound for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana. Included in that figure too, are other family and community members.

The release said that the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) has been activated and members are meeting regularly to ensure continued coordination of the country’s response to the virus.

Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr. Emil Mc Garrel, of the Ministry of Communities, told participants from the 10 Administrative Regions that “appropriate and adequate information is a key way to help in the response phase”.

Information sharing, through the MOPH and the HEOC will be a buffer against officials “giving in to wild theses and innuendos. We are here to prepare to respond,” Mc Garrel told participants.

MOPH PS Collette Adams highlighted the country’s multi-sectoral approach which she reasoned is “needed to protect all”.

The MOPH in adherence to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act has made the necessary request to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) considering Guyana is at a point in its financial year without a budget.

PS Adams reminded officials to maintain strict financial accountability for moneys utilised as part of the country’s response.

“We must account for every cent” Adams told participating officers.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud gave an overview of the global effects of COVID-19 telling his listeners that there is now “more deaths outside of China” where the virus originated.

Persaud highlighted port surveillance; home and facilities isolation; case finding and early detection and contact tracing and follow-ups and strategies to help interrupt person to person transmission. The CMO’s recommendations included closing borders, suspension of conveyance, which is preventing airlines, vessels and vehicles from entering the country, social distancing and limiting private and public gatherings.

In his discourse, the CMO said that where there are clusters of cases and local transmission there should be public health policies including control measures, government orders and quarantine.