Minister: Significant improvements at NRH, no dead bodies lying on the floor

Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana sys the NRH has made significant improvements over the past weeks since the outbreak in Honiara and there are no dead bodies lying on the floor and situation in chaos as per the media enquiries.

Speaking during his COVID-19 Update tonight, Dr Togamana said: “We have also received many questions from the media regarding the status of our NRH. Fellow citizens, I’d like to assure that our National Referral Hospital has made significant improvements over the past weeks since the outbreak in Honiara.”

He adds: “Strict entry protocols, PPE and IPC measures were sternly enforced. Daily frequent decontamination of the premises also ongoing and clear separation of work flow to prevent cross overs and cross infection were established.”

Dr Togamana said: “There are no dead bodies lying on the floor and situation in chaos as per the media enquiries. All newly recruited nurses are being closely supervised by senior nurses and doctors, and they do not operate alone.”

He said swift assessments and discharges of patients from the wards had drastically reduced the number of patients and guardians at the hospital, further mitigating the spread of the virus.

Clinical management of COVID-19 patients has been enhanced through provision of adequate equipment such as oxygen and medicine supplies including improved guide on management of COVID-19 patients and for those with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, he said tonight.

Dr Togamana said similar initiatives at NRH will also be replicated in the Provincial hospitals and other health facilities and relevant resources are being mobilised to enable capacity development.

He said preparations are underway for NRH Medical Team to be deployed to provincial hospitals to impart training and improve workflow to make the facility COVID-safe.

“With the improved situation at NRH, public are urged to urgently bring to the hospital those with COVID-19 like symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 and are starting to show signs of becoming very sick with the virus. Do not wait for symptoms to get worse to the point where your sick family member or friend is restless and is bed ridden. Seek and act immediately and urgently to get medical help.

“We are seeing late presentation amongst many of the severely sick patients at NRH including COVID-19 related deaths. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen,” he said.

News@SBMOnline2022