The number of cases of health-care associated infections (HAIs) within hospitals all over Africa is incredibly inflated compared to statistics from elsewhere in the world. For this reason there have been many measures implemented within hospitals that can help health-care workers ensure that their immediate environments are clean enough. A clean health-care environment means that patients are less likely to fall ill.

One way in which African clinics and hospitals can remain free of bacteria and germs is through fumigation. Fumigation assists in the cleaning of all working surfaces within hospitals, removing difficult-to-exterminate bacteria that are found all over health-care premises. Locations from which germs can multiply and spread includes medical tools, curtains, gloves, toilets, faucets, door handles, beds, hand railings and many other fittings and hospital items.

Hospital fumigation is useful in this regard because of the following benefits:

• Hospital fumigation can reach all spaces within the building, including those hard-to-reach locations within basements, roofs and the like.
• Hospital fumigation eliminates a host of bacteria that are otherwise unaffected by conventional means and methods of cleaning.
• Hospital fumigation may seem disruptive to hospital and clinic schedules, but the effects are long-lasting, ensuring a substantial drop in the number of bacteria colonies.
• Hospital fumigation, when done by an experienced contractor, can be done quickly and economically.

There has been concern over the use of hospital fumigation. With case studies mentioning escaped fumigants intoxicating both hospital staff and patients causing illness, there is no chance of this happening if hospital fumigation is done properly by a team of fumigation specialists.

Hospital fumigation uses the chemicals chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide vapour to clear the building’s interior of all bacteria and germs. With the correct safety measures, this fumigation is harmless and will work effectively.

For hospital fumigation in Tanzania make sure you contact Huan Associates Limited today!

CDC recommends a layered strategy to reduce exposures to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes using multiple mitigation strategies with several layers of safeguards to reduce the spread of disease and lower the risk of exposure. While it may not be necessary to apply every consideration to be protective, implementing multiple mitigation strategies is recommended, if possible, to improve effectiveness. In addition to ventilation, the layered approach includes efforts to improve social distancing, wearing face masks, and hand hygiene.

SARS-CoV-2 viral particles spread between people more readily indoors than outdoors. When outdoors, the concentration of viral particles rapidly reduces with the wind, even a very light wind.  When indoors, ventilation mitigation strategies help to offset the absence of natural wind and reduce the concentration of viral particles in the indoor air. The lower the concentration, the less likely some of those viral particles can be inhaled into your lungs; contact your eyes, nose, and mouth; or fall out of the air to accumulate on surfaces. Protective ventilation practices and interventions can reduce the airborne concentration, which reduces the overall viral dose to occupants.

Below is a list of ventilation interventions that can help reduce the concentration of virus particles in the air, such as SARS-CoV-2. They represent a list of “tools in the mitigation toolbox,” each of which can be effective on their own.  Implementing multiple tools at the same time is consistent with CDC mitigation strategies and increases overall effectiveness. These ventilation interventions can reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and reduce the spread of disease, but they will not eliminate risk completely.

While the list of tools is intended to be universally applicable across indoor environments, applying them to different building types, occupancies, and activities under environmental and seasonal changes can be challenging. The specific combination of tools chosen for use at any point in time can change. It will be up to the building owner/operator (obtaining expert consultation as needed) to identify which tools are appropriate for each building throughout the year.

This guidance is intended for all Americans, whether you own a business, run a school, or want to ensure the cleanliness and safety of your home. Opening America requires all of us to move forward together by practicing social distancing and other daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Opening the country also strongly relies on public health strategies, including increased testing of people for the virus, social distancing, isolation, and keeping track of how someone infected might have infected other people. This plan is part of the larger United States Government plan external icon and focuses on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and can also be applied to your home.

Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces including your workplace, school, home, and business will require you to:

• Develop your plan
• Implement your plan
• Maintain and revise your plan

Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of opening public spaces that will require careful planning. Every American has been called upon to slow the spread of the virus through social distancing and prevention hygiene, such as frequently washing your hands and wearing masks. Everyone also has a role in making sure our communities are as safe as possible to open and remain open.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed if you use the right products. EPA has compiled a list of disinfectant products that can be used against COVID-19, including ready-to-use sprays, concentrates, and wipes. Each product has been shown to be effective against viruses that are harder to kill than viruses like the one that causes COVID-19.

This document provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:

1. Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure.
2. Disinfection using EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon can also help reduce the risk.  Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important.
3. If products on EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon are not available, bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface and will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
   • Most household bleach contains 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use a bleach product if the percentage is not in this range or is not specified, such as some types of laundry bleach or splash-less bleach as these are not appropriate for disinfection.
   • Follow the directions on the bleach bottle for preparing a diluted bleach solution. If your bottle does not have directions, you can make a bleach solution for disinfecting by mixing:
     • 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of bleach per gallon of room temperature water OR
     • 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of room temperature water
   • Follow the manufacturer’s application instructions for the surface. If instructions are not available, leave the diluted bleach solution on the surface for at least 1 minute before removing or wiping. This is known as the “contact time” for disinfection. The surface should remain visibly wet during the contact time.
   • Ensure proper ventilation during and after application (for example, open windows).
   • Never mix household bleach (or any disinfectants) with any other cleaners or disinfectants. This can cause vapors that may be very dangerous to breathe in.
   • Make a new diluted bleach solution daily. Bleach solutions will not be as effective after being mixed with water for over 24 hours.