Injection safety programme introduced at West Dem hospital

An Injection Safety and Waste Management Programme was recently launched at a Region Three hospital in keeping with the ministry’s programme to address all aspects of health care.

A Government Inform-ation Agency (GINA) press release said the ministry aims to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases caused by sharp injuries through safer injection and waste management practices in all health care facilities countrywide. The course was set up at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. The launch coincided with an awards ceremony hosted for health workers at the hospital.

Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, told the attendees at the opening that the ministry is advocating that hospitals desist from using injections unless they are absolutely necessary.

He said some medications are only available in injection form and while he is not calling for stopping the use of injections, he is encouraging the use of tablets or liquid forms of medications.

Ramsammy said it is unfortunate that worldwide people often use medication in injection form in preference to oral medication but the goal is to change that paradigm and ensure that medication that is available in another form is utilised.

The minister pointed out that many diseases are transmitted through needles that after often used in homes to administer insulin and in health facilities and are dumped at garbage sites.

He said this is the reason that the ministry is setting high standards at all health centres to ensure proper care and to sensitise the public on the dangers of needle use in order to stem accidental transmission of blood-borne diseases. At the same time, the minister cautioned diabetes patients that reusing needles to administer insulin is an unsafe practice.

According to GINA, government spends more than $200M annually on medications that are to be administered by injections. “Guyana’s move towards non-injectable medication is not one that is being driven by the cost implication,” Ramsammy said, adding that it is by the principle of safety, not only for patients and health workers but the wider population.