Dialysis patients urged to get vaccinated as an additional layer of protection against Covid-19 |03 July 2021

The medical personnel working in the Dialysis Unit are properly gowned at all times in the personal protective equipment (PPEs) and they also observe strict sanitary measures

Covid-19 related-deaths stood at 71 as of Thursday July 1, 2021. According to the Health Care Agency, all the patients had underlying medical conditions which lowered their immunity from the virus. Out of the total number of deaths, three were diabetic patients who were undergoing dialysis treatment on a regular basis. Diabetic patients are considered a vulnerable group and are more at risk of having other health complications if they test positive for Covid-19.

According to the Health Care Agency, most dialysis patients have taken both doses of the Covishield vaccines. However, some patients refuse to be vaccinated for various personal reasons. Although there is proof that the Covid-19 vaccines provides protection against the serious illness from the virus, it does not provide total protection. It is therefore advisable that diabetic patients and their families take additional measures to protect themselves such as mask wearing, hand hygiene and distancing.

In line with this, the Health Care Agency has stepped up its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for Covid-19 to ensure that patients who report to its dialysis centre at the Seychelles Hospital for treatment are not exposed to the virus. The dialysis unit is one of the few health services that is fully operational during the pandemic and the agency has created a safe environment for its patients who must follow regular treatments.

The agency is implementing several measures to segregate symptomatic diabetic patients from positive asymptomatic and non-infected patients to break the chain of transmission. Presently, all patients who have tested positive for Covid-19 and who are symptomatic have been transferred to the Family Hospital in Perseverance for dialysis treatment. Whereas those who are positive and asymptomatic as well as non-infected patients are undergoing their treatment at the Seychelles Hospital.

The director of the Seychelles Hospital, Dr Kenneth Henriette, says the measures in place not only protect the medical personnel attending to the diabetic patients but the patients as well.

“We have set up our dialysis unit in such a way that it minimises the risk of transmission among patients. At the Seychelles Hospital, we segregate the positive asymptomatic patients from the non-infected patients and ensure they have no contacts as they are treated in separate rooms,” explains Dr Henriette.

He adds that furthermore, the patients are observing other preventive measures such as wearing of masks, sanitising frequently and maintaining social distancing from each other.

The Health Care Agency reassures patients that they are unlikely to contract the Covid-19 virus in the dialysis unit where a high level of hygiene is also maintained as the place is disinfected regularly and the personnel attending to the patients must follow strict preventive measures to protect themselves and their patients.

“The medical personnel are properly gowned at all times in the personal protective equipment (PPEs) and they also observe strict sanitary measures. They are also screened regularly for Covid-19 and are isolated if necessary. Our patients are also screened when they come for their treatment and visitors are not allowed in the unit,” explains Dr Henriette.

The Ministry of Health has ceased all dialysis treatment for patients in Praslin who have tested positive, as the facility there is not adequate to isolate them while they undergo their dialysis treatment. These patients have been transferred to the Family Hospital in Perseverance on Mahé.

Despite all the measures, Dr Henriette advises patients and their families to do more to protect themselves. They are advised not to mingle with people outside of their households and to observe sanitary measures if they must leave the house. He calls on everyone to educate themselves about the virus and to get vaccinated as soon as possible as this is important to protect people at increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19.

“Our dialysis unit safe, however we advise all patients to get vaccinated as an additional layer of protection against Covid-19. We are doing a lot to break the chain of transmission through the measures in place, but we need the patients’ support as well. Be aware that you are vulnerable, so be responsible and do your part to protect your health,” concludes Dr Henriette.

Other than diabetic patients, other vulnerable groups who are more likely to develop serious illness from Covid-19 are older people and those with medical problems like cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.

Contributed