Mission
Setting a global standard for healthcare worker protection
Healthcare workers are a crucial resource in all countries. But in many places, they are at high risk of acquiring preventable, life-threatening occupational infections.
We believe healthcare workers everywhere should be provided with the
basic protections that have been shown to prevent exposures and
infections. We believe that these measures should be mandatory, and
should be provided free of charge to workers:
- Hepatitis B vaccination for all healthcare workers, as
recommended by the World
Health Organization and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
- Elimination of unnecessary sharps
- Availability of safety-engineered needles and sharp medical
devices (i.e., with protective features that blunt, retract or shield
needles or sharps after use)
- Availability of basic barrier
garments for blood intensive procedures (gloves, goggles, masks,
fluid-resistant gowns, etc.)
- Post-exposure prophylaxis for all healthcare workers who sustain an occupational exposure to HIV
When considering such measures, many ask: Can we afford to
pay?
We believe the right question is:
Can we afford not to?
