Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga, former Director of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, said that nearly two years of raging pandemic has left many serious consequences on the economy, health of people and medical staff.
On May 12, three female nurses fainted and had to be treated for emergency treatment while taking samples for people in the epidemic area in Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province.
Physician Le Thi Nhung, Thuan Thanh District Medical Center, Bac Ninh, was soaked and exhausted, unable to take off her protective suit.
According to Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, former head of the Infection Department of Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital 1, when overworked, medical staff, especially those taking samples for testing, easily `fall into danger`.
To reduce work pressure and energy on the front line, associate professor Nga said that managers need to arrange human resources and change shifts appropriately, especially when working outdoors, such as going to an outbreak to take medical care.
During the work shift, the person taking samples, entering data and labeling sample tubes can sit, while the person who swabs the pharynx will have to stand.
In addition, Dr. Khanh especially noted that localities should proactively expand and train sampling skills for local human resources.
Experience in `raising troops` and conserving health
Citing Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Khanh said, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health stipulates that at medical facilities, for every 50 hospital beds, there must be a Covid-19 sampling team, consisting of three people.
At Children’s Hospital 1 alone, all more than 300 doctors, in all departments, have completed a training course on taking nCoV testing samples.
`The sampling technique is not too difficult, it only takes two training sessions to be able to practice smoothly. More importantly, instruct medical staff on safety precautions when performing tasks,` said Dr. Khanh.
Medical staff in Tien Du district, Bac Ninh took advantage of the white night of May 13 to take samples for workers in Yen Phong district.
Medical staff themselves also need to preserve and take care of themselves and have skills to cope with adverse weather conditions.
`Protective clothing is only worn once, when taken off it must be thrown away in the appropriate place,` Mr. Nga emphasized.
Director of Binh Thanh District Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Doctor Nguyen Hoang Thien Tam shared that in addition to mobilizing personnel and arranging reasonable rest time, encouraging the spirit of brothers and sisters, center leaders
As a human resource coordinator and also directly at the scene to take tens of thousands of samples for nCoV testing during 4 epidemics, Mr. Doan Van Cong, manager of the Department of Testing and Imaging Diagnosis, Binh Thanh District Medical Center,
Learning from experience through epidemics, he and his colleagues found ways to self-regulate and balance their strength.
At the same time, at the scene, he closely observed his colleagues. If he saw anyone showing signs of weakness, dizziness, or thirst, he would let them take a break immediately.
A medical worker took the opportunity to sleep in the waiting row at the old Eastern bus station, Ho Chi Minh City, for 15 minutes waiting for the car to deliver the samples.
Experts also recommend that when working, people need to drink enough water, supplement with minerals and vitamins such as lemon juice, orange juice or roasted black bean juice, waterbottle water… The diet of workers needs to be
In addition, all medical staff must be trained in occupational safety and hygiene in hot conditions, and trained in first aid in case of heatstroke or sunstroke.
`The war is still long and medical staff are an important force, so they need to rest, support and strengthen each other, and join hands to repel the pandemic,` Associate Professor Nga emphasized.
