Indian Medical Association directs its 2.5-lakh members to follow the IMA Kayakalp

Indian Medical Association directs its 2.5-lakh members to follow the IMA Kayakalp New Delhi, May 23, 2016: The Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda on Friday launched the 'Kayakalp Fortnight' to ensure the upkeep of high level of cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene within and outside the premises of central government hospitals in the country. This is an extension of the Kayakalp initiative launched by the Health Ministry last year under the Swachch Bharat Mission. Supporting the initiative, the Indian Medical Association directed its 2.5-lakh members to follow the IMA Kayakalp. The Kayakalp initiative encourages every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities stay clean and hygienic. This applies not only to physical cleanliness but is also dedicated to developing and putting in place systems and procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal. The initiative towards total “Swatch” in public health facilities aims at building the confidence of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage teamwork. Speaking about the IMA Kayakalp, Dr SS Agarwal – National President IMA & Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “IMA Kayakalp aims at educating the management of hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers about the importance of maintaining the necessary hygiene and sanitation in and around their centers to reduce the high rate of hospital led infections in our country. Research indicates almost 40% of patients admitted in public hospitals and 20% in private hospitals are vulnerable to acquire life-threatening infections. Just by keeping one’s environment clean, over 50% of the disease complications can be prevented.” The guidelines, which all medical establishments must follow under the IMA Kayakalp, include: • Make the premises free of mosquito breeding. • Strictly follow the guidelines for biomedical waste management. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has issued new Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 in March this year. • Segregate all waste at source. • Implement and promote hand hygiene practices. • Formulate infection prevention and control policy for your clinic. All staff should be trained to follow standard infection control precautions. • Hospital-acquired infection rate should be minimum. • Promote cough etiquette and cough hygiene in the clinic. Masks should be used in areas such as reception, labs. Doctors should use N95 masks when they see patient with a cough. • People within 6-10 feet of a patient on droplet precautions should wear a mask. • Have a properly designed and functioning airborne infection isolation room/s in your clinic. It is a single-occupancy room used to isolate persons with a suspected or confirmed airborne infectious disease. The airborne infection isolation room should provide negative air pressure in the room and a minimum 6-12 air changes per hour and direct exhaust of air from the room to the outside of the building or recirculation of air through a HEPA filter before returning to circulation. All persons entering the isolation room must wear a respiratory mask with a filtering capacity of 95% that allows a tight seal. • Promote the rational use of antibiotics in your clinic to prevent/check antibiotic resistance. • Make your clinic a silent zone. Permissible noise level in silent zone is 50 dB in daytime (6 am to 9 pm) and 40 dB in night time (9 pm to 6 am) • Control air pollution: Ensure proper ventilation to improve indoor air quality; use air filters and get your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems) checked regularly. Avoid using split ACs. Avoid incineration. Doors to all patient rooms should remain closed. Make your clinic ‘No Smoking zone’.