When I worked as a Podiatrist in High Wycombe, there were some issues with
the local Mirpuri Pakistani community regarding our department's suggestion
of using surgical spirit topically to dry out soggy skin associated with
certain types of athletes foot. Having found this to be the case (from a
patient complaint) I then queried (with existing patients from this
community) our routine use of chlorohexidine in industrial methylated spirit
(IMS) as a primary skin disinfection technique. Some patients (the more
overtly religious ones) were against both practices. When I enquired of a
few of them how they worked around skin disinfection techniques in the
operating theatre, which was then an iodine based antiseptic in an alcoholic
solution, I received the reply that they weren't aware that that was the
case, but would be against it. Other community members thought that if it
was for a life saving operation such as a heart op, then this would be
acceptable, but not for something more trivial like chiropody treatment
(which endeared that individual to me, as you can imagine).
I did some reading up as to the forbidden nature of alcohol in Islam and
found it was indeed regards ingestion, but having tried this argument with
the anti-IMS community members, they were having none of it. However, as I
found out later, in my work as the ethnic health development worker looking
as service access, the religious faction of this particular community there
was always a degree of being seen publically to be upholding Islam properly
(whether they did or not in private) complicated by the fact that they
seemed reluctant to question or have questioned, the rules of their faith.
So as always it depends to whom you talk to.
I'm greatly enjoying reading the emails posted to the list whilst still
being on maternity leave and not having to act upon any of them!
Alison Devlin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cheikh Traore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 1:12 PM
Subject: Re: Hand Hygiene Policy
Same here, I grew up in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and worked in
various Muslim countries as a medical doctor. I never heard about using
alcohol for hand hygiene as a problem!
Regards
Cheikh Traoré
Health Inequalities Programme Lead
Policy Support Unit
Greater London Authority
City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London SE1 2AA
Direct Tel: 0207 983 4641
-----Original Message-----
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Qassim Taher
Sent: 03 August 2006 11:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hand Hygiene Policy
This is the first time I hear this. I was born in a Muslim country and was
raised as a Muslim and worked in several hospitals in that country. I am
aware that the whole of the Muslim world use alcohol as an antiseptic for
cleaning instruments and before the use of syringes as well as other uses.
Taher Ali Qassim
Public Health Neighbourhood Manager
Central Liverpool PCT
Unit 4, Tattersall Way
Montrose Business Park
Liverpool L79NB
Tel 0151 300 8090
Fax 0151 300 8050
Global email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Cox Michelle
Sent: 03 August 2006 11:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hand Hygiene Policy
Hi All
Has anybody been involved in an immpact assessment for hand hygience policy.
Afer consultation with the local muslim communities, there seems to be
conflicting feedback as to the use of alochol hand gel to minimise the
reduction of infections. Many thanks
Michelle Cox
Equality and Diversity Advisor
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreeen University Hospital Trust/ North South and
Central Liverpool Primary Care Trusts
0151 285 4390
|