The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) launched Safe Injection Environment (SIE) programme in Bengaluru, in association with Becton, Dickinson & Co (BD India), a leading medical technology company. Targeted at paediatricians and healthcare professionals, the initiative reportedly includes training workshops on safe injection practices across 12 cities in India to safeguard patients from various blood borne infections.
The event was attended by Dr (Prof) Shivananda, former Director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru, National Coordinator- IAP and an eminent pediatrician of Bengaluru, Dr Shubha Badami, President IAP, Bengaluru (BPS) and Dr Ravishankara. M, Secretary, IAP, Bengaluru along with several pediatricians. On the occasion, IAP and BD India released a guidebook on safe injection practices.
Dr Shivananda, National Coordinator, IAP said, “IAP has been spearheading the SIE programme since 2004 to enable safe injection environment in India. The aim is to protect children from greater risks and health threats caused due to unsafe injections. One of the safest options to guarantee the safety of an injection is to use auto-disable syringes that block the plunger after a single use. They are the safest devices for injections because they can be used only once.”
“The safe injection environment programme is aligned with BD’s purpose of helping all people live healthy lives,” said Dr Bhaskar Sonowal, Technical Advisor – Infection Control and Patient Safety, BD – India. “BD will work with IAP in training healthcare professionals so as to ensure basic levels of patient safety and protection of healthcare providers from the risks associated with unsafe injection practices,” he added.
In India, IAP and BD have collaborated since 2004 to address the issue of unsafe injections by establishing guidelines to help ensure the highest levels of injection safety in India. IAP and BD have also collaborated to implement an injection safety intervention model in the state of Kerala, which is now being replicated across the country in a phased manner. IAP and BD intend to continue addressing this important public health issue of unsafe injections in India through a multi-pronged approach that includes training, public awareness and technology innovations.
EH News Bureau