Labuan hosp says merely observing SOP
Published on: Wednesday, November 26, 2014
LABUAN: The Labuan Nucleus Hospital said it was merely observing the Standard Operating Procedure set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and adopted by the Health Ministry when it decided to reserve 18 parking lots for potential Ebola patients.It has reduced the number to eight lots following a Daily Express report in which members of the public felt that the hospital was going overboard in its preparedness since no screening was currently even being done on arrivals at either the international airport or ferry terminal for any signs of Ebola. Hospital Director Dr Adnan Musa Balidran said although the odds of the deadly virus surfacing on the island was remote, it decided not to leave any stone unturned.ADVERTISEMENT "We would rather err on the side of caution because one case is one too many and without preemptive actions it could endanger many lives," Dr Adnan said. The parking lots in the hospital compound can accommodate not more than 200 cars, which is insufficient considering it has a staff of 400. This excludes the number of visitors coming to the hospital.On the non-scanning of people coming into Labuan at the airport, he said it was because Labuan did not have direct flights from the hotspot African countries. The main gateway into the country is through Kuala Lumpur where such facilities are in place. Suspected Ebola cases are quarantined and observed during the critical 21 days."As an Oil & Gas hub with a sizeable number of expats, we cannot totally rule out such an eventuality. They might come in by ship or any other modes by sea. If one manifests likely symptoms, Labuan Nucleus Hospital is ready with the personnel and equipment," Dr Adnan said.ADVERTISEMENT A person in contact with the virus would show up within two days to three weeks. The onset ranged from fever, sore throat, headache and later vomiting and diarrhea, along with decreased function of liver and kidneys resulting in death. In some cases, bleeding internally and externally occurs.He said a dedicated medical team is on standby with equipment. They are trained to handle deadly infections and would be wearing Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) suits, similar to Hazard Material (Hazmat) gears. Their linens have to be incinerated.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We enclosed the parking lots in front of the Isolation Unit to ensure maximum safety and security. Although it takes up space at the expense of visitors, this out of bounds area facilitates maximum efficient flow," he said. Dr Adnan said a purpose-fitted ambulance of transporting a suspected Ebola patient could be rushed to the isolation unit from the emergency and casualty department.If anyone is presented with the symptoms, he has to be taken by the designated ambulance as his cough and secretion could infect those around him."By having a wide buffer in front of the isolation building, the medical team can do their work without hindrance and evacuate people from the immediate vicinity. That means we have to shut down the canteen as well when a case is suspected or probable," he said, adding that the disease is highly contagious and without the protective gear it could cost lives.The isolation unit can accommodate up to eight patients. Once a case is confirmed for Ebola, he or she would be referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu for treatment.The latest WHO update reported 15,351 people had been infected, claiming 5,459 lives. The hotspots are in African countries. But two people and one person had been treated with Ebola in US and Spain, respectively. The cause of death is linked to organ failure.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
"It is in the public interest that we take pre-emptive measures rather than react when a real thing happens," Dr Adnan said because the protocol is up and running, should an emergency is at our doorstep.CAPTION: Dr Adnan (right) with his executive officer Idylrwan Mohd Idris explain the work flow of the special medical team to handle Ebola at the isolation building.