A Bolton healthcare company will see its products shipped to areas of Africa affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Vernacare, founded 50 years ago, has been chosen as part of the UK Government’s emergency response.
Essential hospital equipment used to care for those battling the disease such as urinals, bedpans and wash bowls will be replaced with disposable ones – to avoid using contaminated equipment and halt the spread.
The Ebola outbreak has killed around 4,500 people so far, with most of the cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
This comes after 100 British Army medics were flown to Sierra Leone yesterday, to help contain the spread of the disease, and provide assistance to under-pressure medical personnel in the country.
Emma Sheldon, Global Marketing Director for Vernacare, said: “We are proud to play our part in helping to stem the spread of Ebola and stand ready to increase production and issue other products in our range, such as vomit and wash bowls, to meet further global demand.
“Since Ebola is spread via bodily fluids, handling the faeces, urine or vomit of infected patients presents a risk.”
An express order of Vernacare products have been dispatched to Sierra Leone, where it’s infection prevention products will thwart a major safety threat posed by re-using ceramic, plastic and stainless steel bedpans and urinals.
The ‘Vernacare system’ of infection prevention works by replacing hospital urinals, bedpans and wash bowls with hygienic containers made from renewable natural fibre.
These are then placed in Vernacare’s ‘vortex disposal machines’, which disintegrate the containers and liquidise the waste, enabling it to be disposed of appropriately.
Vernacare’s products are exported to 48 countries and are used in NHS hospitals to prevent infection.
Ms Sheldon added: ”Our single-use products will hold waste for long periods without any chance of leaking and can be disposed of safely after use – providing assurance to both patients and healthcare workers.”
So far only the British victim of the disease is William Pooley, a volunteer nurse who was treating infected patients in Sierra Leone. He has since made a full recovery.
