Northern Health Addresses Ebola
Prince George, B.C.- While the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall says the likelihood of Ebola presenting itself outside the lower mainland of B.C. is very low, that doesn’t mean Northern Health isn’t preparing, just in case.
There are only about 40 people who arrive in B.C. each month from the countries in West Africa which are experiencing a wave of the deadly virus still, Northern Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Sandra Allison says the North isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Yes it’s scary, but I think it’s really important that we have these discussions” says Dr. Allison “I want to make sure we are as prepared as we can be.” She says the challenge in Northern Health is getting the message out to 7,000 people who are working for Northern Health which is a region that covers 650 thousand square kilometers.
So, to ensure everyone has access to the same information, a resource website has been developed. “I think we also have to realize the risk perception of the public seems quite high, but the actual risk to B.C. residents is low and remains low at this time” says Dr. Allison. None the less, Northern Health is “gathering our resources and ensuring people have the information at the front lines.”
It is a concern from those front line workers which prompted Dr. Perry Kendall to speak out yesterday and call for a practicing of protocols so all health care workers feel confident and familiar with the protocols if they have to deal with such a case. (see previous story)
Dr. Allison says Northern Health is aware of the concerns expressed by the BC Nurses Union and Northern Health is working hard to meet those concerns “We will do our best to get right out to the front lines at every health centre, we are developing those tools right now.”
“Knowing what we know, it’s our job to be prepared and be the ones that are focusing on the risks” says Dr. Allison “We are working with our infection control team and our workplace health and safety team to get right out to the front lines.”
Comments
I think Northern Health and Dr Kendall are really down playing this .
I agree we are probably at less rishk than Vancouver, but if it gets there the chances of it making it o PG jumps exponentially.
40 people from West Africa arrive in BC each month says Dr. Sandra Allison. That is probably directly, what about those who come from other countries who have been in West Africa….
Now days a person, with good connections, can fly from any point in the world to another point in the world in about 2 days.
The risk might not be high, but I am not so confident that the risk is as low as our medical people would have us think.
I guess we shall see won’t we.
They where very confident in the usa to with their so called protocols. How did that work? Don’t be so confident until you figure out the missing factor.
So, they offer a press release that downplays the imminent threat of Ebola, while being sure to state that they are going to remain vigilant. Yet the nervous nellies amongst us feel as if their fears haven’t been addressed sufficiently. Perhaps running around like Chicken Little and screaming dire warnings from the rooftops would have been more appropriate?
New protocols? Oh you mean they are going to start “actually cleaning” the hospital here? That would be a welcome change of pace, give those dust bunnies a run for there money. So this means they are going to repair the broken Autoclave at the McBride hospital instead of trucking contaminated medical equipment and linens back and forth to Prince George. Environmentally “friendly cleaners”, hah yup need to use twice as much to do the job a cup of bleach and hot water would do. It’s just an illusion…
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