Issue no. 12: PHC in Albania in COVID-19 context

Currently, there are cases of COVID-19 infections in both districts where HAP operates. There are 41 active cases in Fier district, 9 of which are hospitalized, whereas in Dibra district there are 18 cases of which 2 persons are receiving hospital treatment (referring to the MHSP data of July 10th, www.coronavirus.al). There are 50 people self-isolated at home being monitored by the family doctors of the respective health centers in accordance with the health authorities’ protocols.

Ventilators donated from Switzerland, Norway and UNDP arrive in Albania

New ventilators arrived in Albania, a donation from the governments of Switzerland, Norway and UNDP in support of strengthening the capacity of intensive care to cope with the situation caused by COVID-19 infection. In his speech during the ceremony, Mr. Patrick Meier, Deputy Head of Mission, Swiss Embassy, said: ‘In line with Switzerland’s comittment for a stronger health sector, the new ventilators shall serve to increase capacities to deal not only with COVID-19 patients, but also to treat patients with other respiratory complications‘. The Swiss contribution of about USD 330,000 was realized through the Health for All project.  Learn more

HAP donates surgical masks for primary health care teams

During June, team of 92 health centers in Tirana, Fier and Dibra region have been equipped with surgical masks from Health for All Project. HAP is considering the opportunity to also provide medical gloves to the primary healthcare professionals in the frame of its support to primary healthcare proffesionals in coping with COVID-19. Learn more

HAP provides educational materials for HC teams and patients

A set of educational materials (posters and leaflets) on COVID-19 has been distributed to PHC centers in Fier, Diber and Tirana region by HAP. The materials are based on WHO recommendations and contain advices for the health professionals and the general public in the context of prevention and control of COVID-19 infection.

Use of online materials prepared by HAP: testimonies from professionals

Since the outbreak of COVID-10 pandemic in Albania, HAP took the necessary measures to provide a set of training materials on COVID-19 having in focus PHC proffesionals. The materials were shared within the centers’ teams, who discussed them with each other in their workplaces and remotely via telephone and social networks. Lately, with the training activities being allowed, several PHC teams are using these materials as the basis for on-site training. We would like to share with you the opinion of Entela-nurse in the Kastriot HC (Dibra region).

From the training materials published by HAP, what topics have been particularly useful to you personally as part of the nursing staff?

HAP materials have been a great help to us, especially in the first weeks of dealing with COVID-19, as there has been a lot of useful information for everyone, both for health personnel and for patients and the community. During the quarantine period, when gatherings and meetings were not allowed, we took measures to distribute the materials electronically and in this way all the staff of the Kastriot health center were informed.

The most useful topics for all health personnel have been those of face protection and hand hygiene which have served as a reminder for nurses, as such practices have not been widely applied by primary health personnel (especially the use of masks and gloves).

Now that the restrictions have been lifted, we are planning to hold meetings in Groups of Peers within the health center team, the basis of which will be the materials for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection prepared by HAP. In this context, we are preparing the documentation for the meetings to be accredited by the NCCE.

Can you give concrete examples of the issues that you provided advice and the HAP materials have come to your assistance?

The advices for the pregnant women have been very important as they were very frightened. As nurses, my colleagues and I have advised them to keep the physical distance from other people, to wash their hands and maintain the personal hygiene, to keep the environment clean and disinfected, to wash fruits and vegetables with plenty of clean water, to cook/boil animal-based foods and dairy by-products as well. Also, they were advised to avoid the movement during quarantine to perform tests or consultations with the obstetrician but to stay in contact with the nurses and the doctor by phone.