Thread by @syikinyunusMD

Shortage of #PPE is a serious issue.

Let’s take a doctor who does screening - 1 set of PPE (mask, face shield, head cover, isolation gown, plastic apron, shoe cover) can last him for 4 hours - afterwards he needs to rest & change (all drenched in sweat).

8h shift = 2 sets PPE

That is 1 doctor.

If a team - mass screening
Average of 10 person/team
20 sets PPE per 8hours at 1 site

We have ~>100 screening sites.

And 34 hospitals managing SARI & #COVID19 -
they have multiple departments/wards required to wear PPE during rounds/procedures

Can u imagine?

The maths on the number of PPE worn per day for whole 🇲🇾 is mind-blowing.

But that’s what is required for the protection of HCW so that our health system won’t crash.

If multiple HCW gets infected due to not having adequate PPE;
manpower will be down.
Healthcare will collapse.

Shortage of PPE is a global issue in this pandemic #covid19. Different countries take different approaches. to handle this issue.

HCW all around the 🌍 have voiced out their frustration & fears over this.

Many HCW have been infected & > 100 doctors worldwide have died.

We HCW are taught:
There is NO emergency Without PPE.

This means that without proper PPE;
you cannot go in & save that patient who is in emergency situation.
Because doing so is causing More HARM & Danger.

We don’t want to come to that situation.
Ensure adequate PPE for HCW

🇲🇾 have been innovative - multiple agencies & public have come together sewing PPE gowns/headcover, making face shields..

But there are certain PPE that can’t be simply created:
N95 masks
Surgical masks
PAPR
Tyvek suits

Suppliers are putting crazy prices.
And shortage is real.

We don’t want to compromise on safety by using crazy measures eg recycling PPE/ using PPE for longer hours / using alternatives like raincoats or garbage plastics which are not protective at all.

This should not happen at all. Not here in 🇲🇾, not anywhere in this 🌍 #medtwitter

It is really sad to hear about what’s happening;
In Pakistan - doctors are arrested over protests on shortage of PPE
In UK - reports of staffs quitting because they don’t have PPE & some of staffs are being silenced over their protests
In Spain, ~10K HCW have been infected

The world needs to stand up & rally for PPE to be adequately given to the healthcare workers.

Because these doctors/nurses/health staffs are the world’s last line of defense against #COVIDー19 .

If they fail or collapse;
The world will lose the war.

#WeNeedPPE #PPECrisis

@threadreaderapp unroll pls tq