NGO trains 400 health workers on injection safety

To reduce the risk of transmission of both hepatitis B and C as well as Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Initiative and Development (CFID), on Tuesday embarked on the training of no fewer than 400 Health Care Workers on injection safety. The Health Care Workers who would all embark on free hepatitis test, as noticed by The Guardian are drawn from six out of the 16 local councils of Taraba State.

Speaking at the two day workshop which took place yesterday in Jalingo and was organized by the CFID in collaboration with the Gilead Sciences, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CFID, Danjuma Adda, said the trained 4000 health care workers would in turn train “ 15,000 community members on the six local government councils”

According to him, “ the 4000 Health Care Workers will conduct community awareness and sensitization to reach 15,000 community members in the six local councils.
Calling on the health workers to desist from rational use of injection, health workers he advised must disposed used “ syringe and needles at point of use” adding that safe “ treatment and final disposal of use injection equipment, and immediate segregation of waste at point of use” are vital to injection safety.

Adda who beckoned at Health Care workers in the state and the country at large to ensure safety of injection practices and as well ensure uniformity of practice, pleaded with the health workers to increase knowledge on viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS among health workers and community members.

According to him, health workers should endeavour to contribute to the “ reduction of the rate of transmission of blood borne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C among health care workers and communities around health facilities.