How to manage H1N1 at workplace (Graphic Business)

Management of H1N1 at the workplaces

Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah

THE work place is one area that communicable diseases can spread very fast if not well contained. It is therefore behoves on management to put in place appropriate structures and facilities that can contain such diseases should it break at the work place.
The recent communicable disease that has spread especially in schools is the HINI influenza. Schools have to be closed down to ensure that the disease does not spread.
Recently the World Health Organisation (WHO) donated 2.3 million doses of vaccines to Ghana to enable the country combat the spread of the pandemic H1N1 influenza.
In addition to the vaccines, the body also paid for freight charges and also distribution cost of the vaccines yet to be administered to some identified groups throughout Ghana.
The groups are health workers and personnel of the security agencies who are to act as first line personnel in times of wide spread outbreak. Others are pregnant women and also Ghanaians who would go to South Africa for this year’s World Cup.
Though the cost of the vaccines is not yet known, it is believed to be on the higher side since it is new and researchers and manufacturers are yet to break even.
The country was selected together with other 93 developing countries to receive the vaccines free from the world body to help them combat the spread of the deadly influenza which hit the world in April 2009. Each of the countries will receive vaccines to cover 10 per cent of its population.
The vaccines was given after the Ghanaian health authorities have furnished the WHO, with the needed information for its approval and subsequent presentation of the preventive drug which was manufactured by WHO accredited manufacturers, Glaxosmithkline (GSK).
Speaking in an interview in Accra, the Director of Public Health, Dr Joseph Amankwah, said WHO decided to help Ghana because of the country’s efforts to combat the spread of the pandemic.
Dr Amankwah said the WHO was also assisting Ghana to receive additional vaccines for the general public of which the country would had to take care of the shipping cost and also the cost of distribution.
He also explained that the first batch of vaccines was meant for health professionals, personnel of the security agencies, pregnant women and most importantly Ghanaians who would go to South Africa for this year’s World Cup.
Dr Amankwah said the vaccines had already been sent to the various regions ready to be administered and that 774 cases had been confirmed out of which one life had been lost . The dead was a 11 month old girl who was sent to the 37 Military Hospital in an unconscious state.
He also indicated that the rate at which people were catching the influenza had slowed down as compared to March this year and added that Ghana was recording more cases because health workers had been vigilant in looking up for the cases.
It is important to note that H1N1 influenza is deadly and should therefore not be taken for granted. We should also know that many lives have been lost in some parts of the world. That is why is important for us to realise that until enough vaccines are made available to protect every Ghanaian, the problem of the influenza will continue to exist. When there is outbreak, people, including those in the productive age would be affected. That is why it has become necessary for all to use other methods other than vaccines to protect ourselves, especially the country’s workforce.
What are the symptoms?
Seasonal influenza and H1N1 share the same set of symptoms. They are fever and/or cough, and one or more of the following: Unusual tiredness; headache; muscle or joint aches; sore throat; vomiting and diarrhoea in children less than five years of age.
How is it spread?
Coughs and sneezes release germs into the air where they can be breathed in by others. Germs can also rest on hard surfaces like counters and doorknobs, where they can be picked up on hands and transferred to the lungs when someone touches their mouth and/or nose.
What can employees do to reduce the spread of H1N1
in the workplace?
As part of the precaution if a worker has flu-like symptoms, he or she should stay at home and minimise contact with others as much as possible.
It is also important for such a person to practice good hygiene – wash his or her hands thoroughly and often and cough into your sleeve or arm with there are tissue papers available.
What should an employer do if an employee comes to work with flu-like symptoms?
As an employer with the interest of his employees at heart, a sick employees must be allowed to go home as soon as possible and stay home until they are feeling well and able to resume normal day-to-day activities.
Until an employee is able to leave the workplace, the employer should encourage him or her to practice good basic hygiene. If possible, the employee should be advised to keep a distance of more than two metres from others in order not to infect others.