Times Of Swaziland: Warders get Swine flu masks

Warders get Swine flu masks
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 NHLANHLA MATHUNJWA on 07/10/2009 00:00:00


MBABANE – As means of reducing the risk of being infected by the H1N1 virus
(swine flu), the Correctional Services employees are now being provided with
masks.
Information gathered was the reason they were provided with masks was because
there were fears that they might be exposed to the virus as there were too many
inmates.
The most affected are those who are working directly with the inmates on a daily
bases. One of the warders told this newspaper that ever since it was gathered
that there were cases of the virus in the country, they have since been
encouraged to wear their masks to avoid contracting the contagious disease.
“They have been giving us the masks to use whenever we are on duty.
“We work with a lot of people here and there are possibilities of us
contracting the disease,” he said. He pointed out that this exercise has been
helping them as so far there have been no reports of infection.
“The masks are really helping us and this is a good initiative from our
seniors as they seem to care about our health,” he said.
Another warder said: “We are aware that the virus is contagious and we are
trying by all means to make it a point that we remain safe”.
The Correctional Services Public Relations Officer Nomkhosi Maseko said the
masks where were amongst the precautions any tools that were being given to the
staff to make sure they are safe.
“It is not only the masks that are provided as we also provide gloves and
boots. We always advise them to make it a point that that they use them in order
to make sure that they remain safe,” she said.
Asked if there were any reports of swine flu cases that have been reported
within the service, she pointed out that at the moment they were still safe as
no cases had been reported.
“I strongly believe that we are still safe from the virus. We have nurse and
doctors who always try to educate us at all times,” he said.