01/05/2020
I write today to plea with you all especially my Hippocratic brothers and sisters. Also to you the Clinician, Nurses, Pharmacists, ward audilies and porters. or you, that by reason of your work, is exposed to close contact with patients in a hospital setting.
The figures here locally is rising, currently it's still in an Arithmetic progression, we hope it doesn't get to a Geometric one or ever rise in an exponential order. I can conveniently tell you owing to the statistics available to all,that Its good to be a hero but is however terrible, to be an unsung hero.
Your family may remember you, but how long will your primary institution (Hospital) remember you? How about the many that are currently dependent on you, Should the worst case scenario occur?
Honestly, I know being infected by the disease (COVID-19) is not the end of the world or it's near end. It's the stigma, that may be issue. well, even that will be conquered with time. But what about a re-infection? the chance of a second wave and the likelihood of you infecting your dear family and love ones.
What about the trauma of isolation during the period of treatment.
I know the Heroic spirit of a doctor, or any medical personnel for that matter will say... "Abegi... We have seen worst evil".
Do not just insist on use of PPE only before seeing suspected patients, insist on Standard Precautions, during History taking, examination and treatment of all suspected cases. Above all, collect samples for COVID-19 test as a routine in a suspected patient. Just like the routine Mp, FBC, EsR and Urinalysis.
While I do not advice you panic on every fever or respiratory symptoms from a patient, I also do not advice you trivialize it.
Assume all clinical symptoms for now to have a differential of COVID-19 especially if there's a suggestive history of recent travel or close contact from an individual who recently travelled within the last 14-15days.
A major challenge will be for the few patients that will lie or pad their histories. 'Hence, a high index of suspicion becomes key'.
I do not intend to congratulate owners of private hospitals for providing hand washing facilities or sanitizers for those that have, but to remind authorities of those yet to do, either Private or Government owned, that should calamity befall them, posterity will remember them.
save Doctor
save Clinician
save All
The world still want you!!!
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