Paramount Chief urges medical professionals to prioritize safety

Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the Paramount Chief of Akwamu Traditional Area, has urged nurses, doctors, and other health professionals to adhere to universal measures in their daily work. The chief made the call during the unveiling of a new health center in New Powmu, Asuogyaman District, in the Eastern Region. He stressed the importance of universal precautions, which involve wearing appropriate, non-porous medical equipment such as gloves, goggles, gowns, face shields, and other medical materials to prevent exposure to potential blood-borne infections. He noted that these precautions are considered 'universal' because they are essential measures that healthcare personnel should take with every patient, every time. Blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HIV, can be transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids. However, since healthcare providers cannot determine whether a patient is infected without testing, everyone should be considered potentially infected, and appropriat e safeguards should be taken. 'Never treat a different person with the same gloves or equipment that you use on a patient' he said, adding, 'if there is blood or any other liquid material on the floor, it needs to be cleaned right away to stop people from walking in, which can lead to someone being infected.' He also said, 'It is through general precautions that your clients will learn just how skilled you are in your line of work, so proceed with caution.' He stressed that nurses and other medical personnel had a duty to treat patients with dignity and respect, since their work had direct impact on the course of patients' recovery. 'You are like God; your attitude, lifestyle, and relationships with the person who visits the facility will determine how the person will be healed,' he added. The Chief further urged Ghanaians to adopt a maintenance culture and keep their facilities clean to extend their lifespan. Source: Ghana News Agency