Thread by @AliciaTDennis

A THREAD:
Lessons Learnt From #Publichealth

We see the pattern globally over & over again of governments not taking a strong #humanitarian leadership stand & the devastation it causes a group of people

Unfortunately the treatment of #HCW in #COVID19vic is now an example

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#publichealth aims to improve health of all members of society through equitable distribution & utilisation of goods & services

Programs to improve health are only as good as the government & rule of law they operate under: sustainable +ve change comes from wise leadership

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#publichealth covers all members of society & the sustainable development goals (#SDGs) are for all members of society

It seems unnecessary to state it but in the #COVID19vic era it now must be clearly stated:

Public Health & SDGs Apply To Healthcare Workers #HCW

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This means:
- good health & well-being for all #HCW (3)
- protection of labour rights & promotion of safe & secure environments for #HCW (8.8)
- development of effective, accountable & transparent institutions at all levels (16.6)

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#COVID19vic has unfortunately highlighted a huge crack in the system of #publichealth for #HCW

“Soldering on” “fighting a war” “heroes on the frontline” “sacrificing” are all terms that fundamentally undermine #HCW safety & shift the focus away from #HCW health

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When national guidance about #COVID19Victoria advises substandard safety protections for #HCW ,the guidance flows downstream like a tsunami feeding into state, #agedcare, #disability, community care & #hospital care guidance, finally arriving at #HCW

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health.gov.au/sites/default/…

National guidance advises droplet only precautions in most cases when caring for a #COVID19Vic patient

HCW safety, like any other worker in any other industry must be number 1 priority
#SARSCoV2 #biohazard in #workplace means full adoption of all Hierarchy of Hazard Controls
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As well as all other Controls this means
- #fittesting of masks to ensure they fit (not mandated in national guidance) &
- #airborne #aerosol tier 3 level 3 precaution #PPE for any #HCW caring for #COVID19Vic positive or suspected patient (not mandated in national guidance)

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And of course all #PPE must be of highest standard - like in other industries dealing with hazards (asbestos, laboratory fumes, mining conditions, worksites) - not poor quality @WorkSafe_Vic

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As we await #HCW data from #COVID19Vic important to remember
➡️Any worker injured in short term or long term or who dies due to a #preventable #workplace problem is one too many - So words like “it’s only X% of healthcare workers infected at work” is deeply upsetting

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Was/is this preventable?
Should every #HCW feel protected from workplace hazards?

Yes & Yes:Public Health & workplace safety principles, international cohort data, #science of respiratory viruses, aerosols airborne spread gives us all the info we need to make #HCW safe

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Its strong humanitarian leadership that drives sustainable public health - for #HCW

National guidance needs to immediately change to adopt safest framework for #HCW :instead of a destructive tsunami flowing over #HCW it will become a shield with which #HCW can be protected

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A #PublicHealth system that does not care for #HCW is a deficient and defective system

We do not need more #research more #data we need to implement actions we know work

And we do not need data “spun” to fit a “narrative” of blame the victim or pleading ignorance

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The time for #denialism needs to be over, the time for stubborn adherence to the “Droplet Ideology” needs to be over

If “academics” cannot see the world as it is, playing out in front of their eyes & ears, & cannot change then tragedies will continue

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I thought Australia would be better That in a #pandemic ,where we had time to observe rest of world, we could do better for all people including #HCW

I now hope for #humanitarian #leadership ,for #publichealth ideals, for #transparency & for universal care for #HCW

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