Needles are not sterile can be deadly

Syringe injection and still not used directly in the health centers in Africa, endangering millions of patients at risk for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C. It was warned by health experts on the Africa Health Conference in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

"A shot has been misused by doctors and even shamans, who use it to make money from patients, especially in poor countries where people regard as a symbol syringe healing. In these injections worshipers there is a need to implement regulations to ensure safety, "said Susan Agunda, Vice Chairman of the Nurse in the Ministry of Health Kenya.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in developing countries alone, 16 billion injections are given every year, 90% for medicinal purposes; 50% are unsafe injections. Alarming, about half of used syringes reused in Africa. Agunda recommended that health workers are well trained on handling safety syringes and other injection equipment. "It's not enough just to provide a syringe and not to train health workers on how to use and disposal," he said. "Most health workers still have not closed the back of used syringes, which is very dangerous and can cause some unintentional injury, so that health workers at risk of contracting infections, including HIV."


The conference participants called on African governments to implement national guidelines on the use of needles. Lack of staff was also considered as possible causes of unsafe injections in poor countries.

WHO estimates that approximately 5% of new HIV infections may be due to the use of needles used, and that 58% of health workers to report injuries from needles, so that they accidentally punctured or scratched by an infected needle.

A study of injection safety in Kenya by Nairobi University found that 61% of nurses in health centers surveyed reported needle injury within three months.



Used syringes used by diabetics to inject insulin found in the street and used by injecting drug users, the main drivers of new HIV infections. Agunda reminded that the shamans in rural areas and in urban slums threatening people through the disposal and use of needles used. "In an attempt to reduce their costs may choose to use a syringe and used to infect a large number of people on the circuit, and that is reason enough the need for surveillance of African governments to cope."