REGION SEVEN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS PARTICIPATES IN MONKEY POX SENSITISATION SEMINAR
Primary Health Care Workers operating from Health Outposts that are geographically located within the Middle and Lower Cuyuni/Mazaruni,Areas of Region Seven,
participated in a Monkey Pox Sensitization Seminar on Friday, September 2nd,2022 at the Bartica Town’s Regional Public Hospital Board-Room Venue.
Dr. Dason Mc Kenzie was the Facilitator for this sensitization Seminar.
The Subject Areas focused on the Modules of understanding what is this Zoonotic Contagious Virus, it’s History ,Clinical Diagnosis Surveillance and Laboratory Investigations.
A Clinical assessment of the Virus was also provided with the Ecology of the Virus.Participants were also updated on the One Health Concept, which will focus on improving the Population’s Health towards primarily recognizing that the Health of both Humans and Animals are universally important.
A Presentation about the Geographic distribution of the Virus was also done, where the Mortality Rates of the Two Clades of the Monkey Pox Virus were highlighted: The West African Clade, that has a Mortality Rate of 6% and the Central Africa Clade that has a Mortality Rate of 11% , the Categories of Transmission were also highlighted: the Primary Transmission of the Virus which is through Animals to Humans by Wild Meat contact, mention was also made about avoiding direct contact with sick or dead Animals so as to avoid contamination, and the Secondary Transmission of the Virus, which is from Human to Human.
The Environmental and Social Factors of the Monkey Pox Virus were discussed, these Factors are : Deforestation which disrupt the Habitats of Animals forcing them to move into Humans’ contact Zones, for example Mining which also involves the unhealthy use of Mercury;Civil unrest and Poverty; Climate change: Flooding as a resulting example, and the Cessation of the Small Pox Vaccination since 1980.
The Module of Transmission was then explained to the Participants. Transmission occurs through contact with contaminated Respiratory Droplets ; Lesions Materials ; Body Fluids,contaminated Materials and Surfaces,particularly, by the Virus entering the Body through the Eyes ; Nose ; Mouth or Lesions.
A Module was also presented examining, what can be done about Zoonotic Diseases , where Public Awareness was also further recognized integrally , as the Key Factor, towards control of the Monkey Pox Virus Transmission. Mention was then made about the Two Vaccines that are currently recognized by International Authorities where the Monkey Pox Virus is concerned, they are the ACAM 3000, and the JYNNEOS which cost more than the ACAM 3000. A quantity of the JYNNEOS Vaccines will soon arrive in Guyana.
The presentation of the Module Bio- Safety Standard Prevention focussed on the safe use of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE. , practical demonstrations were then also conducted to remind Participants about the precautionary steps, that they must maintain in safely putting on a PPE., and also in safely taking off the PPE., and then safely disposing the PPE.
The Module of Clinical Diagnosis Surveillance and Laboratory Investigations , described and differenciated, the Classified Stages of Lesions during the incubation Period of 5 to 21 Days, where with the Monkey Pox Virus, the Lesions mostly affect the Body Areas of the Face, Hands and Soles of the Feet .The Stages of the Lesions during the incubation Period of the Monkey Pox Virus are chronologically classified from: Macule, Papule, Vesicule,Pustule and Crust. The Characteristics of the Monkey Pox , Chicken Pox and Measles Virus were also discussed. Participants were also reminded that Asymptomatic Cases can also occur.
An Overview of Diagnostic Tests Methods being used was also then done during this Module, where a comparison on the effectivity of Diagnostic Tests were highlighted to Participants,with practical demonstrations being provided.Participants were also then informed that currently, in the interim, treatment is being done asymptomatically with isolation.
The Module of NPHRL Monkey Pox Contact Investigation Form,and the Monkey Pox Case and Investigation Form, involved the practical participation, of all Participants under the guide of the Facilitator.
During this Seminar at the completion of each Module, an overview Exercise was conducted with Participants.
In the Summary Segment of this Seminar,all Participants then expressed about their attained self confidence, from the Knowledge they had acquired from the Seminar, to now be in a prepared mode, when operating in their respective geographic Subject Area towards attaining control , of any probable Monkey Pox Virus contamination.
