Lessons learnt from the rapid implementation of reusable personal protective equipment for COVID-19 in Malawi
| Autor: | Kelvin Mponda, Derek Cocker, Mulinda Nyirenda, Luis Gadama, Priyanka Patel, Fumbani Limani, Servace Sakala, Feggie Bodole, Kwazizira Samson Mndolo, Queen Dube, Bridget Freyne, Pratiksha Patel, Stephen B. Gordon, David Garley |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Malawi
medicine.medical_specialty Medicine (General) Laundry wa_395 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 wa_250 diseases R5-920 wc_506 Health care Pandemic wc_505 medicine Humans infections disorders Pandemics Personal Protective Equipment Personal protective equipment injuries wa_105 Service (business) Practice Surge Capacity SARS-CoV-2 business.industry Health Policy Public health wa_525 public health Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 medicine.disease Medical emergency business Waste disposal |
| Zdroj: | BMJ Global Health, Vol 6, Iss 9 (2021) BMJ Global Health |
| ISSN: | 2059-7908 |
| Popis: | The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged health systems and healthcare workers worldwide. Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to mitigate the risk of excess mortality in healthcare providers. In Malawi, the cost of PPE represents an additional drain on available resources. In the event of repeated waves of disease over several years, the development of sustainable systems of PPE is essential. We describe the development, early implementation and rapid scale up of a reusable gown service at a tertiary-level hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. Challenges included healthcare worker perceptions around the potential of reduced efficacy of cotton gowns, the need to plan for surge capacity and the need for ongoing training of laundry staff in safety and hygiene procedures. Benefits of the system included increased coverage, decreased cost and reduced waste disposal. The implementation of a reusable cotton gown service is feasible, acceptable and cost-effective in tertiary centres providing specialist COVID-19 care at the height of the pandemic. This innovation could be expanded beyond low-income settings. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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