A culture of patient safety is further unfolding in the world’s largest refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Over the past months, WHO and health partners prepared for COVID-19 in the many fronts of the health care system to ensure patient safety and health care workers’ safety amidst the greatest pandemic of our times.
In March, WHO developed a concept of operations to establish Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Isolation and Treatment Centres (SARI ITCs) for moderate and severe COVID-19 patients. In record time, with support of partners 14 facilities with 924 beds were created across the Rohingya refugee camps while 3 more with 436 beds are currently under preparation to further enhance the health sector’s capacity to respond to COVID-19.
Rohingya refugees helping build IOM SARI ITC in Ukhiya with bamboo, the same material of their shelters. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
Triage team wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while waiting for a COVID-19 patient at UNHCR/Relief International SARI ITC in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
“COVID-19 highlighted the importance of patient and staff safety across the world and reminded us that only safe health workers can keep patients safe. In Cox’s Bazar, WHO has been speaking up for health care workers, enhancing training on infection prevention and control and equipping health facilities with all means possible to keep everyone safe”, says WHO Head of Sub-Office, Dr Kai von Harbou.
Following WHO’s appeal to construct SARI ITCs across the refugee camps, the UNHCR/Relief International SARI ITC in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, was built in only 8 weeks. The facility was officially operational in May with 209 staff and 144 beds for Rohingya refugees and host communities.
“We admitted the first patient, a male Rohingya, on May 27th and since then we have provided treatment and care to a total of 184 patients. We have a very committed and motivated team working together to ensure that COVID-19 is prevented, properly managed and well contained”, tells Patricia Azikiwe, Health and Nutrition Program Manager at UNHCR/Relief International SARI ITC.
A COVID-19 patient talking with a nurse inside the ambulance on the way to UNHCR/RI SARI ITC. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
The UNHCR Relief International SARI ITC receives suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. According to a pathway designed to ensure patient safety, the health care staff wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at critical points: inside the ambulance, during triage, observation and treatment, and at any other moment of interaction with patients.
The facility also has Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) supervisors responsible for environmental cleaning, disinfection of equipment and linen, continuous education of healthcare workers on IPC and adherence to IC standards by all staff. This is all aimed to ensure patient and healthcare worker safety.
Before being seen by a doctor, the COVID-19 patient’s condition is assessed by the triage team comprising a nurse and a medical assistant. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
“COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease and we are committed to creating the safest environment possible before caring for patients, while doing so and even after. Our top priority is patient safety and that means keeping health workers safe too”, says Dr Nazia Sultana, Medical In-Charge at UNHCR/RI SARI ITC.
Dr Nazia is a recognized COVID-19 IPC master trainer by WHO and has personally trained 207 staff responding to COVID-19 in her organization. To ensure patient safety in Cox’s Bazar, WHO started capacity building to health workers in January 2020, long before the first COVID-19 case was identified in the refugee camps.
After triage, the patient is transferred to the red zone where a nurse, a medical assistant and Dr Nazia Sultana are expecting him for more detailed history taking and examination. WHO Bangladesh/Tatiana Almeida
More than 1200 doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedical staff are fighting COVID-19 pandemic in Cox’s Bazar. For them, every day is patient safety day as they are working around the clock to treat patients and prevent further infections in a very challenging setting. On World Patient Safety Day, WHO pays tribute to their remarkable contributions to saving lives under unforeseen and extremely difficult circumstances.