By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Jan 31: Three more patients who undergo treatment at the Miri Red Crescent Dialysis Centre (MRCDC) have contracted Covid-19.
This was revealed yesterday during the MRCDC Management Committee meeting chaired by Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also the chairman of the Miri Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Kidney Dialysis Committee.
Two of the patients contracted the virus from external sources while the source of the third infection is still being investigated by the Health Inspector from Miri Divisional Health Office.
Due to this, 15 nurses and nine dialysis assistants who were identified as close contacts have undergone their first swab test and are awaiting results.
These staff are currently on strict home quarantine.
As an enhanced preventive measure, the MRCDC Committee has also instructed MRCDC’s operations management to now provide face shields to all patients which patients must use at all times in addition to face masks while undergoing dialysis.
The staff must at all times also use their prescribed PPE outfits when treating patients.
Family members and carers of all dialysis patients are at all times instructed to be extremely cautious and to follow all standard operating procedures (SOPs) outside the dialysis centre.
All close contact dialysis patients to the positive patient have been immediately identified and as part of the SOP all of them are dialysed in a separate shift from the other patients.
They are not encouraged to go out of their homes, except for going to the centre for dialysis or under very essential circumstances.
They will also be regularly updated about adhering to SOPs with reminders via WhatsApp. MRCDC currently operates 76 hemodialysis machines and treats 344 dialysis patients.
During the meeting Lee emphasised that MRCDC have always placed great importance on hygiene, SOPs and prioritising the needs and safety of dialysis patients.
Among the committee members present were six doctors including Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong and Miri Divisional Medical Officer, Dr P Raviwharmman Packierisamy.
Recently, eleven MRDC staff were placed under home quarantine afrer one staff was confirmed Covid-19 positive on January 22. — DayakDaily
