İSTANBUL – Murat Ekmez, Member of the Board of Istanbul Medical Chamber, who warned that if healthcare workers are not provided with adequate preventive equipment, health professionals may become active vectors of the epidemic, said: "If we want a healthy society, health workers should be prioritized."

 

The new type of coronavirus (Kovid-19) epidemic, which started in Wuhan, China, has spread all over the world. While there is still no cure for the outbreak, some precautions are taken to prevent it. According to experts, adequate measures are not taken to prevent the spreading of the epidemic in Turkey. Health workers fighting against the outbreak also lack the necessary equipments.

 

Stating that there are great deficiencies in the supply of masks and glasses that prevent the infectious effect of the epidemic in many hospitals, Istanbul Medical Chamber Board Member Murat Ekmez stated that the types of masks that have a preventive effect against the epidemic are also very important. Ekmez said: "There are masks that we call M95 and M99. Such masks are not yet distributed to healthcare workers."

 

'PREVENTIVE EQUIPMENT IS NOT PROVIDED'

 

Emphasizing that health workers are at risk, Ekmez warned that if sufficient preventive equipment is not provided, health workers may become active vectors of the outbreak. Stating that a sufficient amount of education should be provided against the epidemic, Ekmez said: "Even now, there is no information about how to approach patients who can come to hospitals as a result of the outbreak. If it was done, we have no knowladge of it."

 

'HEALTH OF THE EMPLOYEE IS ESSENTIAL'

 

Stating that the healthcare professionals in Italy have difficulties in catching up and responding to the cases because they lack sufficient equipment, Ekmez said: "Hospitals are one of the first centers where citizens go because of the epidemic. Hospitals should not turn into vectors of the epidemic. Healthcare professionals need to be very enlightened about protective measures and the risk should be reduced.Many hospitals works like that; Someone takes the temperature of the patient at the door. They are sent somewhere to be intervened by a health care worker who does not have any protective gear. We have to approach all patients like they have coronavirus even though they don't have any symptoms. And those who treat him must have all necessary protective ecquipment. The health of the health care worker is very important. If we want a healthy society, then the healthcare worker must be healthy."

 

 

MA / Naci Kaya