TITLE:
Training of Infection Prevention and Control to Healthcare Workers of Mining Health Facilities: A Shared Responsibility for Improving Safety of Mining Communities
AUTHORS:
Joseph C. Hokororo, Laura E. Marandu, Ruth R. Ngowi, Radenta P. Bahegwa, Yohannes S. Msigwa, Chrisogone J. German, Omary A. Nasoro, Erick S. Kinyenje, Syabo M. Mwaisengela, Mbwana M. Degeh, Robert S. Mazengo, Irene F. Ndauzi, Eliudi S. Eliakimu
KEYWORDS:
Healthcare Associated Infection, Infection Prevention and Control, Safety of Mining Community
JOURNAL NAME:
Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine,
Vol.12 No.4,
September
18,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Without appropriately trained healthcare workers (HCWs), infection prevention and control (IPC) cannot be implemented according to set standards. Although training is crucial, authorities rarely consider those working in health facilities owned by the mining. We describe the training which was conducted in North Mara in Mara region mining health facilities. Methods: This was descriptive study on the training of IPC to HCWs of mining health facilities. The training was conducted to North Mara Gold Mine Limited on April 2024. We targeted the HCWs and supporting staff working in the health facilities of the mining communities. The duration of the training was five days. The sessions started with pre-training test to evaluate what participants understood before training and followed with training itself. The training was carried out using mixed adult learning methods like: illustrated lectures, demonstrations, brainstorming, small group activities, group discussions, role plays, case studies and simulations. The training was finalized with posttest. Results: A total of ten HCWs were trained out of 13 of the facility. In that training six were males and four were females. Also, out of the ten trained three were clinicians, four nurses, one lab technician, one pharmaceutical technician, one support staff. The average score of the results of the pretest was 70.7% with a range of 16% (minimum 64% and maximum 80%) and that of the posttest was 79.8% with a range of 12% (min 74% and max 88%). Conclusions: If HCWs are well trained to comply with IPC standards and transmission-based precautions, they have the ability to deliver safe health services and protect themselves, patients, environment and the community. Training of HCWs working at the mining, therefore, can be adapted in all mines to improve the quality of mining healthcare and respond to the need to improve the safety of mining communities.