Nairobi

GEIS News:

Kisumu

Kericho

 Health care personnel are continually at risk of exposure to HIV and other Blood borne pathogens contained in the blood, blood products and body fluids within their work environment .It is for this reason that the PI Kericho site proposed a system to avoid and acutely respond to occupation associated exposure events to blood, blood products and body fluids within the work place.

The PEP plan is already in place at the WRP Kericho site with the following already taking place;

 v   Orientation and training of all employees in methods to reduce exposure events and respond to possible exposure events. This includes the mandatory acceptance of the blood borne pathogen policy prior to employment .This was done in September 2003 and documented in the employees personnel files by  Dr. Njeru the medical officer for the project. 

v   A system has been created to maintain a two full week supply of non –expired antiretroviral drugs and a minimum number of five non expired  rapid tests for testing of worker and source blood for HIV serostatus at any one time by the primary physician.

 v   Selection and training of a primary physician (Dr.Njeru) and three backup physicians (from African Highlands produce Central Hospital, Brook Bond Central Hospital and Kericho District Hospital) has been done to respond to possible exposure events. These four physicians have agreed to respond 24 hours a day to exposure events .The primary physician is responsible for the monitoring the status and supply of drugs while maintaining contact with the principal investigator.

 In addition a program for Hepatitis B vaccination for all workers at risk of blood exposure has been established .The Kericho staff handling blood and blood products have now received the first and second doses of the vaccine and are due for the third dose April this year .It is the hope of each one of us in Kericho that these measures will help us prevent the transmission of blood borne pathogens in the work place

Events!