HEALTH authorities yesterday stepped in to deny reports of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara among health workers.
Both Minister Dr Tautai Agikimua Kaitu’u and the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Steve Aumanu came out to dismiss the reports.
“Only one medical staff had evidence of TB infection out of the 23 suspected cases at the Emergency Ward that were investigated,” Dr Aumanu said yesterday.
“A total of 23 Emergency Ward staff were investigated for symptoms of cough, fever, feeling unwell, some of these staff did not have any symptoms, but were investigated anyway,” he added.
“These staff undertook TB screening because the attending doctor who was looking after them decided that it was appropriate to investigate for whether they are ill with TB.
“The staff are clinically examined, collected sputum for analysis, and took chest X-ray and the assessment showed that one staff had evidence of TB infection, but the stage of the infection is still at its primary stage and not infectious, the staff was placed on anti TB treatment.”
Health minister Dr Kaitu’u has told parliament early investigations found the risks of tuberculosis spreading are minimal.
“We are trying to re-organise the emergency ward, to get some more doctors at the ministry to take calls at the hospital,” he said.
“We have nurses in Vanuatu, they have already being appointed, so we are looking forward to them and some of them will work at the emergency and outpatient at the hospital,” Dr Kaitu’u added.
He told parliament work has started to look at the hospital’s ventilation, window sizes, and put more fans at out-patient and emergency wards.
Meanwhile, Dr Aumanu said in the wake of the reports, they called a meeting between the treating physicians, WHO TB Expert, the hospital Radiologist, and Laboratory Technologist to discuss the suspected TB case and they agreed that evidence from all the assessment showed that only one staff out of the 23 showed evidence of TB infection.
“It was agreed that it is best practice that national TB guidelines should be used in putting people in TB treatment, and that in the case of those who don’t have strong evidence of TB, a follow up close surveillance should be done”.
While the assessment has proven that there is no TB outbreak, Dr Aumani said work to improve ventilation at the Emergency Ward is currently underway.
He added the health of the workers and their working condition is very important to the hospital and the people of this country.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
& BIRIAU W. SAENI
