Baptist Hospital Banyo against COVID-19
A security post has been dedicated at the entrance of Baptist Hospital Banyo (BHB) equipped with an infrared thermometer, wash hand basin, and alcohol for disinfection. A nurse assistant is stationed at the control post to check patients for signs of COVID-19.
Reports say, the Central Pharmacy-made face masks have been bought and are available for staff use following the instructions of the Director of Health Services (DHS). Effective Thursday, April 23, 2020, nobody accesses the hospital without a face mask. Clients who come without masks will be provided for at the entrance at a minimal charge. In addition, the hospital with the assistance of Bafoussam Baptist Health Centre has acquired 100 reusable face shields for optimum protection of staff.
In line with these innovations, the Administrator, Mr. Nteff Jonathan paid a courtesy visit to the SDO of Mayo Banyo to brief the civil administration on the strategies deployed by BHB to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The SDO told the BHB Administrator that treatment sites have been identified in Banyo including the District Hospital, Dream City Hotel and a COVID-19 isolation village in Banyo (still to be constructed ) to take care of suspected and confirmed cases.
Meantime, COVID-19 messages emphasizing prevention and awareness creation have been produced and being broadcasted in the Wouroum Radio Sawtu Jam Jamanu in English, French, Fufulde and Yamba languages. Also a new pump has been bought and put at the disposal of the BHB Emergency Response Team.
Although a drug to treat COVID-19 is not available yet, BHB has ordered and received some molecules of chloroquine from CP to serve exclusively as prophylaxis for staff who become exposed and are suspected. “Suspected staff while on quarantine will be placed on this drug in line with the DHS instructions,” the Administrator emphasized.
At the time of this report, training for emergency response team was being envisaged with focus on Infections Prevention within the context of COVID-19.
At presstime a case of COVID-19 had been reported in Ngoundere, chief town of the Adamawa region but no case reported yet in Mayo Banyo division where Baptist Hospital Banyo is located.
KBHC Embarks on Awareness Campaign on Coronavirus
The staff of Kouhouat Baptist Health Centre (KBHC) are leaving nothing to chance in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. The health center staff under the flagship of Mr. Yongka Wilfred, Chief of Centre (COC) has been on an awareness tour on the Coronavirus in the Kouhouat community and its environs.
During the tour, their message has been clear; the Coronavirus is a respiratory disease that can be contracted through close contact of about 6-feet with an infected person, as well as coming in contact with droplets spread through coughing and sneezing.
The team told the Kouhouat populace that the spread of the virus in their community will only be slowed if they stick to preventive measures, which is now the only feasible way to keep the virus abated. Some of the preventive measures they dished out to the people were; wash hands regularly with soap under running water, use alcohol-based hand gels or rubs, respect social distance measures, avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth, and to cough and sneeze into the elbow.
Fatigue, fevers, dry cough, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal discomfort were some of the possible signs and symptoms the population was told to look out to suspect for COVID-19.
Nonetheless, given that proper washing hands are seemingly a rare practice to many, the KBHC staff made demonstrations on proper handwashing as well as how to use alcohol-based hand rubs and gels.
Nkoabang BHC Aligns to Measures to Limit Coronavirus Spread
Nkoabang Baptist Health Centre (BHC) has mobilized a team that will follow up and contains the spread of the Coronavirus within the health center. The team meets regularly to discuss preventive measures as well as define sanitation guidelines for staff and clients against the virus. At the time of this report, a room has been designed to host suspected cases for screening and sample collection.
Mr. Ndukong Godlove, Chief of Centre (COC) emphasized the need for staff to take safety measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus as well as measures not to contract the virus in the line of duty. He cautioned the staff to be vigilant and strictly respect the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines especially when in contact with suspected cases. Above all, he asked staff to always wear protective gear and sanitize hands regularly with alcohol hand rubs. In the meantime, all clients making their way into the health center are having their temperature recorded. After which the team on hand assists them to disinfect their hands.
On a separate note, the staff of Nkoabang Baptist Health Centre has been drilled on how to operate a fire extinguisher. The demonstration was during morning devotions in the chapel on the heels of a fire outbreak that engulfed an entire wood workshop near the health center.
Our Nkoabang based reporter, Divine Ngala noted that the Chief of Centre cautioned staff, especially those operating inflammable equipment like oxygen tanks to be on guard in an event of a fire incident. He equally announced the creation of an exit site and rallying point in case of any such occurrences.