Dr. Henry is a Family Physician/highly rated Emergency Medicine Practitioner with in-depth experience in both medical practice and research. EIM hosted him for our EIM COVID-19 Training Session on the 27th June, 2020.
In this highly engaging session, thoroughly researched facts and current guidelines on COVID-19 were discussed, and participants left the meeting as highly educated doctors on the pandemic and how to cope in this unprecedented season.
Some of the highlights from today’s meeting, gotten as feedback from participants:
- “As doctors we are at high risk of infection, re-infection and transmissibility to our patients and loved ones so we need to be extremely careful!”
- “There have been rumours that the COVID-19 virus is less virulent in our location because of our climate.” In this session, these rumors were dispelled, as it was made clear that in similar climes, the pattern of spread was mostly dependent on the specific country’s response to the pandemic and not their climate.”
- “We must enforce guidelines to protect ourselves and our loved ones! Staying safe isn’t just for ourselves alone but also for the people in our lives.”
Top Strategies for Keeping Safe in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Since we are unsure of when a vaccine would be available for COVID-19 and current drugs being touted as ‘promising’ (e.g. Remdesivir) are still in the research phase, here are the top strategies for staying safe in this period:
- Hand hygiene is essential: Proper handwashing is still one of the gold standards of keeping safe during this period.
- Use your Personal Protective Equipment: PPEs aren’t just a fad, they actually work. So even when you’re tempted to do away with them, remember the responsibility you have to not just yourself, but also to others. Use your: N-95 masks, surgical masks, face shields; as required.
- Enforcing Social Distancing Measures have been proven to work: Keep a distance of at least 2metres from patients and even co-workers
- Triage patients using a checklist: this gives you a rough idea of suspected cases
- Treat every patient as a potential COVID-19 case! Remember that there is community spread, and we have a good percentage of asymptomatic carriers.
As community spread continues in Nigeria and isolation centres get overwhelmed, self-isolation is one measure we’re going to have to take more seriously. As much as you can, educate people on the benefits of this practice to themselves, their loved ones and the general public- if they have concerns of being infected.
As a junior doctor, remember that you will be at the forefront of seeing patients on most days. Please, stay safe by taking all necessary precautions. “There is no emergency in a pandemic”
Loved this EIM snapshot? Read our previous snapshots on Women in Surgical Specialty Series, Dealing with Anxiety and the Nigerian Route to Residency.
