It appears that a group of people, who seemed to be volunteers, were observed cleaning the General Hospital. It is questionable, whether the individuals possessed training and knowledge of the process and procedure for the cleaning of a hospital. The individuals were casually dressed, in ordinary clothing and from all indications seemed to be unaware, of the measures required, to clean a facility of this nature. Whether or not, they were using the proper cleaning agents, is also a great cause for concern, as the whole process looked like a community cleanup drive.
GPWU reminds the Ministry of Health, that the cleaning of a hospital, or any health care institution, requires a detailed scientific and strategic approach to prevent the incidence of nosocomial infections, that could even be a risk for the spread of the deadly COVID -19 Virus.
Nosocomial infections are infections that are spread from within an institution and therefore, in the plan to clean a health institution, all measures must be put in place, to protect patients, workers, the public, as well as these persons coming into the institution to do the cleaning.
Further, in this current context of the advent of the deadly COVID-19 virus, it multiplies the occupational safety and health risk one hundred and ten (110%) percent. The cleaning of any health care institution has to be doubly supported, by making sure all COVID-19 protocols are adhered to in the strictest sense.
Any personnel, or group, who has been given the task to clean, or paint, any health facility must abide by the COVID-19 protocols, for cleaning provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), and follow the Infection Control Practices and Standards, in terms of their mode of attire, the cleaning agents used, the cleaning procedure and sequence. We cannot take the same approach, as we would take, to clean our home, a shop, a community center and even a church. Any deviation from the cleaning guidelines provided by the WHO, can place everyone at risk and may give rise to a national occupational safety and health crisis.
GPWU begs our healthcare advisors, the Permanent Secretaries, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Director of Medical Services, Director of Hospital Services and all those with the knowledge and skills to please, take control of this risky situation. We remind, that this is a hospital, a healthcare institution, with patients, people who already have compromised health situations and conditions.
This compromising cleaning act, appears to be sending the message that those leading the health care system in this country, do not care about our members, workers, patients and the general public.
GPWU therefore calls on the Minister for Health and the Minister for Hospital & Community Services, to please ensure that persons being sent to provide cleaning and painting services at our General Hospital or Health Institutions, receive the proper training, from our health professionals. The microbiological principle must be adhered to.
Our Government seems to be using our healthcare system and it appears that they do not care about the patients on the bed right now, the workers in the institution, or the public.
GPWU therefore views this unprofessional and unscientific cleaning action, as a careless, heartless, unethical, unfounded, approach and we therefore, call for this to be corrected immediately.
The Occupational Safety and Health of our members, workers and the public is important and we advise our members and workers to please remove themselves whenever they feel they are in any danger.
Thank You, Solidarity Forever.
Sis. Rachel Roberts
President