You would have thought that healthcare workers would have been well versed with universal precautions. In this era of HIV/AIDS and other infectious pandemics, it would only be logical to think that healthcare workers would want to protect themselves especially when they are at risk in their daily routines.

Unfortunately, many still do not practise the basics of such precautions eg the wearing of gloves and the proper disposal of needles. It should have been an automatic response after years in medical schools. Sadly, doctors still decide not to wear gloves and incorrectly disposing needles putting them and others at extreme risk of needle stick injuries.

Safety of healthcare personnel should always supercede that of patients. If one cannot protect oneself from harm, the job of helping others becomes precarious.

These are habits that should be instilled early in medical education. The adage that old habits die hard is perhaps true. Unlearning a habit can be a mammoth task. Therefore medical students should be reprimanded if caught flouting rules meant to protect them. Anything less will do no justice to their future.

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