Nakuru County has improved the standard precautions and procedures to prevent Healthcare Acquired Infections (HCAIs) through the implementation of Infection Prevention Controls (IPC).
According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui, Nakuru has made strides in ensuring 0 HCAIs saying that they have equipped Nakuru Level 5 Hospital with the biggest Healthcare Waste Management Microwave and Shredder Machine for waste disposal in the County.
The Governor noted that in the past, HCAIs used to be a threat in the healthcare setups in the county but his administration has continuously implemented various control methods to curb the situation.
“Healthcare Acquired infections used to be a threat in our hospitals, children could get pneumonia in the wards, infections after dialysis process and surgical procedures would occur at times but right now we are carrying out various control methods to ensure safety of the patients and healthcare providers,” said the Governor.
He added that the county has also trained healthcare providers across the 11 sub counties on how they can handle patients and how they can protect themselves during treatment to ensure that they are also safe on their line of duty.
“We have trained our healthcare providers across the county to enable them to understand more on how they can handle certain patients with different health conditions and the precautions they have to take to make sure that they are also safe,” said Kinyanjui.
Additionally, he announced that every hospital across the county has a set standard on infection controls that ensure prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HCAIs) that can spread through contact in hospitals which may result in a patients admitted for a specific healthcare service, catching a new or different infection.
Making her presentation during implementing Infection Prevention Controls (IPC) training that over 60 Community Health Extension Workers attended, County Community Health Strategy Focal Person, Ms. Ritah Ochola announced that the Department is well equipped for the prevention and control of infections in the county hospitals.
She added that the County’s Department of Health has consistently been implementing Infection Prevention Controls (IPC) and building the capacity of Healthcare workers and staff at different levels so as to reduce the risks of transmission of infections from recognized and unrecognized sources protecting both Healthcare workers and patients in Health Facilities.
According to Ochola, Infection Prevention Controls has greatly reduced the spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and it has supported high-quality, integrated, people-centered health services with a high Return on Investment.
By Charloth Chepkemoi
