Being in charge of a company clinic doesn't mean just consultations and treatments. When I first arived here I have improved the clinic logistics,
reporting and made 'activity protocols' to be followed in cases of a mass medical emergency, e.g. accidents (like fire in the camp), boat capsizing,
inclement weather, riots (unlikely but have to be considered, although a security problem it is possible to have lots of injuries), in cases of disease
outbreaks and ways to avoid this (early detection, isolation and early treatment). I have also studied the pesticides (if these are safe and recommended
schedules for fumigation to minimize exposure of personnel) being used in the camp and worksites, done a lot of drills and others. I am not only a clinic
physician but a health planner and epidemiologist too. I think my manager appreciates what I have accomplished in less than a year.
Everything might be undone because of one stupid person. The swine flu has spread widely and is now a pandemic. As such, when I arrived last 13 June 09 from vacation, the situation wasn't the same than when I left a month ago. I reviewed our protocols to take this in consideration, proposed a 'welcome' letter for our employees coming back from vacation and to those newly hired coming from abroad indicating what to do (to immediately report to any of our clinics) in case they develop signs and symptoms of flu.
Early this morning, an Indian came for fever, nasal congestion and cough. He had these for several days after coming from vacation and self-medicated fearing it might be the swine flu and that he might lose his job. He only came when he run out of medicines. This is stupid, he won't lose his job, only treated and isolated for a week or so. If, and it is a big IF, it turns out after tests that it is indeed the swine flu, then he has been spreading it for the past week and we are going to have a hell of a local outbreak in our camp. We have a deadline to meet in our project and this will be a very big inconvenience. When these things happens, fingers will be pointed in my and my colleagues' direction. I feel so impotent and inutile.
These happened in Vietnem a few days ago. Febrile plane passengers took fever lowering drugs 3 hours before arrival to avoid detection by airport thermal scanners and Vietnamese health officers now have a big, big problem in their hands because these people turned out to have the swine flu. Had they been detected at the airport, isolation measures could have been initiated and the other passengers would have been advised voluntary isolation in their own homes and followed-up closely by health workers. Now, there is almost nothing that can be done.
These people are very irresponsible and inconsiderate, to say the least. They should be cremated, pronto.
Everything might be undone because of one stupid person. The swine flu has spread widely and is now a pandemic. As such, when I arrived last 13 June 09 from vacation, the situation wasn't the same than when I left a month ago. I reviewed our protocols to take this in consideration, proposed a 'welcome' letter for our employees coming back from vacation and to those newly hired coming from abroad indicating what to do (to immediately report to any of our clinics) in case they develop signs and symptoms of flu.
Early this morning, an Indian came for fever, nasal congestion and cough. He had these for several days after coming from vacation and self-medicated fearing it might be the swine flu and that he might lose his job. He only came when he run out of medicines. This is stupid, he won't lose his job, only treated and isolated for a week or so. If, and it is a big IF, it turns out after tests that it is indeed the swine flu, then he has been spreading it for the past week and we are going to have a hell of a local outbreak in our camp. We have a deadline to meet in our project and this will be a very big inconvenience. When these things happens, fingers will be pointed in my and my colleagues' direction. I feel so impotent and inutile.
These happened in Vietnem a few days ago. Febrile plane passengers took fever lowering drugs 3 hours before arrival to avoid detection by airport thermal scanners and Vietnamese health officers now have a big, big problem in their hands because these people turned out to have the swine flu. Had they been detected at the airport, isolation measures could have been initiated and the other passengers would have been advised voluntary isolation in their own homes and followed-up closely by health workers. Now, there is almost nothing that can be done.
These people are very irresponsible and inconsiderate, to say the least. They should be cremated, pronto.





