Health Ministry issues advisory for healthcare workers

Health Ministry has issued an advisory for managing health care workers working in COVID and Non-COVID areas of the hospitals. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry said an Infection Control Officer cum Nodal Officer will be identified by each hospital to address all matters related to Healthcare Associated Infections to prevent and manage the Covid-19 infection among the health care workers.

 

The Nodal Officer will ensure that healthcare workers shall use Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) as per their risk profile while on duty.

   

In the advisory, it is said, all healthcare workers managing COVID-19 cases are being provided with chemo-prophylaxis under medical supervision.

 

Healthcare workers have been asked to use appropriate PPE during their duties and any breach in PPE and exposure should immediately



bring into the notice of the Nodal Officer of the Department.

 

It is recommended that pregnant, lactating mothers and immuno-compromised healthcare workers shall inform their medical condition to the hospital authorities to get them posted only in non-Covid areas.

 

It is advised that all the health care workers must report every exposure to COVID-19 to the concerned nodal officer of Department immediately.

 

After the information, the Nodal officer will get the exact details of exposure to ascertain whether the exposure constitutes a high risk or low risk exposure.

 

The Nodal Officer will form a sub-committee to assess the level of exposure and the risk and further action will be taken on the basis of guidelines issued by the Health Ministry.