SAFETY MEASURES. Clark Dizon, Nurse V at the Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region, in a media briefing on Wednesday (Sept. 11, 2024) said frontline health workers have been advised to protect themselves from possible mpox infection by wearing personal protective equipment. Mpox is said to be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and by being in contact with a contaminated surface. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – An official of the Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) on Wednesday urged health care workers and hospital frontliners to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves in case patients with suspected mpox cases seek consultation.
Clark Dizon, Nurse V at the DOH-CAR’s Public Health Service Cluster, in a media briefing on Wednesday, said the DOH reiterated on Aug. 29 the interim guidelines for mpox , including the self-protection policy implemented during the pandemic.
MPox is said to be transmissible through skin-to-skin contact or in contaminated surfaces.
“We have asked them to submit their proposals for augmentation of PPE supplies just to ensure that our health workers are protected in case there is an infected patient who will come for medical check-up,” he said.
PPEs include disposable rubber gloves, tight facemasks and body shield.
Dizon said DOH has formed the MPox Task Force to manage the information campaign and ensure that local government units (LGUs) are prepared in the event a case is recorded in the region.
He said technical assistance is provided to the LGU on top of the reiteration of the Covid-19 era’s PDITR (Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate) strategy, which was proven effective in managing any disease that can cause a magnitude of problems.
“This is, again, reminding us to go back to the basics - - to wash our hands and clean or constantly use hand sanitizers for our hands,” he added. (PNA)
