The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City on Thursday, 30th August, 2018 began a collaborative relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO), Benin City, Edo State, on infection control and disease surveillance & notification. This took place during the visit of the World Health Organization (WHO), Benin City to the hospital. The WHO delegation included Mrs. Faith Ireye (State Coordinator), Chief (Mrs.) Winnie Aigbojie (Cluster Consultant), Dr. Andrew Obi (Epidemiologist & Public Health Consultant, Centre for Disease Control, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City), Mr. Samuel Akele (Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) Egor Local Government Area and Miss. Imade Onaiho; (Assistant DSNO Egor Local Government Area).
The WHO State Coordinator, Mrs. Faith Ireye during her visit to the hospital commended the hospital management for their commitment to infection control and prevention. She intimated the Medical Director of efforts by WHO at preventing transmission of nosocomial infections and eradication of other priority diseases like acute flaccid paralysis, yellow fever etc. Mrs. Faith Ireye also confirmed their interest and readiness to collaborate with the hospital in building capacity and providing required materials to ensure safe and hygienic mental health and medical services delivery in the hospital. The Medical Director; Dr. Sunday Olotu in his response appreciated the WHO for accepting to collaborate with the hospital and promised that the hospital’s management will not relent in ensuring safe and hygienic health service delivery.
The event was marked by lectures on disease surveillance and notification and infection control delivered by Chief (Mrs.) Winnie Aigbojie (Cluster Consultant, WHO, Benin City) and Dr. Andrew Obi (Consultant, Public Health Physician, Centre for Disease Control, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City) respectively. Members of the Infection Control and Prevention Committee of the hospital, Doctors, Nurses and other members of staff were in attendance at the lectures.
Dr. Obi in his lecture reiterated that nosocomial or hospital acquired infections (HAIs) significantly increase morbidity and mortality in healthcare systems and contributes significantly to increased economic burden, hence the need for cost-effective guidelines for infection control in healthcare facilities. He stressed that the simple act of handwashing with soap and water will help curb the spread of nosocomial infections. Other preventive measures include use of personal protective equipment (PPE), proper hospital waste disposal, proper cough and respiratory etiquette and environmental cleaning.