Insight
Veteran shares infection control measures in pandemic threats
Recounting the history of infectious diseases in Hong Kong, we have experienced threats from SARS, Swine Influenza, Avian Influenza, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Ebola Virus Disease as well as COVID-19 over the years. The accumulated experiences have created the strongest weapon for us to fight this protracted battle.
Dr Danny Tong, Senior Manager (Nursing) of Head Office, had been a veteran at Intensive Care Unit. As a community nurse, he volunteered to treat SARS patients in Princess Margaret Hospital during the outbreak of the deadly virus 17 years ago, and had since been in the field of infectious disease. “Recalling on those days when SARS went rampant, we had very little knowledge about the disease. All we could possibly do was to grope for stones to cross the river. To this date, I could still remember that we were facing a critical shortage of N95 respirators. To prevent it from contamination, our colleagues had to put on a surgical mask on top of the respirator, and kept it in a one-off paper bag while off for a break.” This tragic epidemic had taught our frontline staff a lesson about the importance of infection control measures, and also given rise to the establishment of the Central Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emergency Response and Infectious Disease Centre.
Dr Tong arranged simulation training for frontline nurses as soon as the COVID-19 emerged. These exercises refreshed the nurses’ memory on the areas of concerns when undergoing high-risk medical procedures for better protection against the virus. In face of the new challenges in providing community medical service, the team has successfully offered prompt help in Chun Yeung Estate, the Community Isolation Facility at Lei Yue Mun and the Community Treatment Facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, with collective wisdom and concerted effort of the team.
Dr Danny Tong, Senior Manager (Nursing) of Head Office, had been a veteran at Intensive Care Unit. As a community nurse, he volunteered to treat SARS patients in Princess Margaret Hospital during the outbreak of the deadly virus 17 years ago, and had since been in the field of infectious disease. “Recalling on those days when SARS went rampant, we had very little knowledge about the disease. All we could possibly do was to grope for stones to cross the river. To this date, I could still remember that we were facing a critical shortage of N95 respirators. To prevent it from contamination, our colleagues had to put on a surgical mask on top of the respirator, and kept it in a one-off paper bag while off for a break.” This tragic epidemic had taught our frontline staff a lesson about the importance of infection control measures, and also given rise to the establishment of the Central Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emergency Response and Infectious Disease Centre.
Dr Tong arranged simulation training for frontline nurses as soon as the COVID-19 emerged. These exercises refreshed the nurses’ memory on the areas of concerns when undergoing high-risk medical procedures for better protection against the virus. In face of the new challenges in providing community medical service, the team has successfully offered prompt help in Chun Yeung Estate, the Community Isolation Facility at Lei Yue Mun and the Community Treatment Facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, with collective wisdom and concerted effort of the team.
