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Cant’ take your eyes off your smartphone? Keep a watchful eye on this habit!

Posted on by yaasine

The World Mobile Phone Free Week is starting today! For some, if not most of us, the mere idea of a smartphone free day is almost unfathomable. However, we will be talking about our eyes’ health this month, so we would like to be all eyes on the impact of excessive smartphone use on our eyes, or more specifically, the impact, and solutions of smartphone use on our sight.
Nomophobia … No, this is not a controversial debate on gender dynamics, but rather the angst of not having our cell phone within reach. Ironically, the phone that was once used for the sole purpose of making phone calls is used today mostly for other reasons : to follow and answer emails, manage our time table, watch videos on Youtube, do an online search, follow our virtual or real friends through Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram, etc. No wonder why most of us have now become nomophobes.

The results on our eyes include visual disturbances, sleep disturbance, a damaged retina caused by our screen’s blue light, among others. With the 2010s’ being dubbed “the smartphone decade”, it goes without saying that we cannot yet have a bird’s eye view on smartphones’ impacts on our long-term health, especially our eyes’ health. However, quite a few studies have been done on this matter.

Blue light’s impact
According to a recent study, blue light emanating from smartphones, tablets, or laptops is harmful for the retina, causing premature reduced vision. In other words, we may gradually lose our eyesight, because this blue light damages the cells of the retina. These damaged cells do not regenerate, and this would cause aging of the eyesight.

And if you cannot get a wink of sleep at night and have bags under your eyes when you wake up in the morning, look no further! Blue light also has a detrimental impact on our sleep, because it disrupts our sleep cycle if we use our cell phone or tablet excessively in the evening before going to bed.

Other publications report asthenopia, or eyestrain, which is said to be caused by the eyes’ dryness. Smartphone use reduces the frequency with which we blink, a move that usually lubricates our eyes.
With the use of smartphones, tablets, or laptops, our eyes have to accommodate rapidly, adding to the eyestrain. Thus, due to the different character sizes between SMS, emails, online articles, the difference in brightness between these different devices, or the shortening of the distance between our eyes and what we read on our devices, our eyes’ activity increases.

Let’s look for solutions!
But how do we manage this impact on our sight in a digital society where we are increasingly confronted to digital devices? The reality is such that we can hardly do without our smartphone now.
There are thus different ways to deal with it, including:
• -by activating the blue light filter on our smartphone or tablet, or by using specific applications for the same result
• -by making the effort of blinking more often in front of our digital devices. By blinking often (and for more than a second), the eyes stay moist and dryness and irritation are reduced.
• -by applying the 20-20-20 rule, that is to say by having a quick break of 20 seconds every 20 minutes and staring at an object 20 feet (about 6 meters) away
• -by keeping our smartphone at least 40 to 50 cm from our eyes, because we sometimes hold it only 20 cm away.
• -by reducing the amount of time we are exposed to smartphones and avoiding its use at least one hour before sleep
• -by using eyeglass lenses especially designed for blue light protection, (whether we need optical correction or not), and which are available from certain opticians.
So, whether you want to have eagle’s eyes or be as blind as a bat, it’s up to you to choose! In the meantime, if this information has been an eye opener for you and should you require additional information, or advice / exams, feel free to call Clinique Bon Pasteur at 401-9500, and in the blink of an eye, one of the ophthalmologists on duty there will be happy to assist you.

Warning !! Love is blind, but keep an eye out for STIs!

Posted on by yaasine

Anti-Covid Vaccines: Global Trends

Posted on by yaasine

As many countries at global level have started their vaccination campaigns, let’s have a quick overview of the different vaccines available to date. Although the campaign at national level is aimed at caregivers and front-line workers at this stage, it is interesting to know how vaccines work and what are the most used anti-covid vaccines as of now.

Vaccines: How Do They Work?
The principle is simple: Inject a tiny amount of a specific virus into the body so that the immune system learns to recognise and defend itself against this virus: this is the modus operandi of all vaccines. A vaccine is therefore a preventive measure, and not a remedy aimed at curing a disease that has already infected a person. According to the WHO Covid-19 vaccine trials provisional table, there are currently 179 candidate vaccines in development, of which 63 have reached the human clinical trial phase.

What are the most common anti-Covid vaccines?
1. AstraZeneca / Oxford (Covishield)
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, authorised in Europe, requires 2 injections, with a delay of 9 to 12 weeks in between. This vaccine has satisfactory effectiveness (between 62% and 70% depending on the study), almost no side effects, and can be stored in the refrigerator. The Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Indian laboratory Serum Institute of India and available in Mauritius is in fact the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, made in India through a transfer of technology. Note that the WHO announced this month that this vaccine can be administered to people over 65 as well, its effectiveness having previously been questioned for this age group.

2. Pfizer-BioNTech
Authorised in Europe and the United States, this vaccine has an expected effectiveness of 95%, validated by a New England Journal of Medicine publication. It is also effective for the new variants identified in Great Britain and South Africa. It requires 2 shots, with a 21-28 days delay, and should be stored at -80 ° C.

3. Moderna
Authorised in Europe and in the United States, this vaccine is 94.5% effective according to the preliminary analysis published by the laboratory. It is administered in two doses, 28 days apart and can be stored for up to six months in a freezer, at -20 °C, then up to thirty days in a refrigerator before use.

4. Sputnik V
The Russian vaccine reports an effectiveness of 91.6%, according to results published in the medical journal The Lancet and validated by independent experts. It is given in 2 shots, 21 days apart, and can be stored in dehydrated (freeze-dry) form in the refrigerator, between 2 and 8 °C. This vaccine will soon be available in Mauritius, and is already used in some countries besides Russia, such as Algeria and Argentina, and more and more countries are interested in it. Europe is currently considering its authorisation.

5. Johnson & Johnson
This vaccine, which is administered in a single dose, has an effectiveness of 66%. It should be authorised shortly in the United States, and will also be used in South Africa.

Although massive vaccination campaigns are not yet on the table in Mauritius at this stage, it is still recommended to observe social distancing and wear a mask.

Woman: her active role in the Bon Pasteur Clinic in the era of Covid-19

Posted on by yaasine

On this 8th of March 2021 two events are in the limelight, namely the upsurge in Covid-19 local transmission cases in the country, as well as the International Women’s Day. We would thus like to emphasize the essential role of women in this Covid-19 era, in connection with the UN theme this year on the International Women’s Day: ” Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” by putting the light on some of the Bon Pasteur Clinic’s staff.

Even if we don’t talk about it often enough, women stand at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organisers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic, according to the United Nations. So let’s give the floor to few women within Bon Pasteur Clinic.

According to Gwenella Murthen, Head of the Human Resources Department, “More women than men are employed in our institution and it’s going well. The women working with us all have important roles at the clinic”. Nikita Elizabeth Mooken, Clinic’s accountant, agrees: “our financial director is a woman and the majority of the employees are women”. In addition, the Clinic is proud to have a board of directors made up of 25% women, with the presence of the financial director, namely Christiane Tadebois, compared to an average of 8.7% of female presence on the boards of directors at the national level.

Interestingly, at Bon Pasteur Clinic, key positions aimed at the well-being of the staff, as well as of the customers, are occupied by women. Victoria Viney, “Experience Officer” is responsible for organising and maintaining an enjoyable and professional overall experience for clients; that is, patients, visitors, doctors, and even the staff; a role that she considers as an amazing experience, with its load of challenges and rewards: “it’s hard to see our patients’ suffering and see families overwhelmed with pain, but also so heart-warming when a patient leaves our clinic with a smile”. As for the head of the human resources department, she lives her role within the Clinic, and as a woman, by trying to listen to employees and their needs, while being comfortable in sharing her ideas and feelings with the Management regarding the smooth running of the Clinic.

Bon Pasteur Clinic’s staff is undoubtedly made up of both male and female professionals. As Victoria Viney puts it so well, “I am grateful to work with the team of nurses, because they are committed and dedicated in ensuring that each of our patients receives the best possible care”. The feminine touch, however, sometimes makes all the difference and demonstrates the importance of a gender-balanced team. Thus, “as a woman, I find myself more patient and accommodating, whether it is towards patients or colleagues,” Nikita Elizabeth Mooken admits.

And as a message to women on this international day, our guests are unanimous: perseverance always, and do not let anyone tread on you!

May this message be an inspiration for women, not only on this International Women’s Day, but may it be an inspiring motto on a daily basis, in order to aim at “Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, and well beyond!

Happy celebrations to all women !

International Nurses Day 2021: A vision for future healthcare

Posted on by yaasine

The International Nurses Day was celebrated globally this month. In an era where so much emphasis has been placed on the essential role played by nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, let’s have a closer look at this celebration and its origins. On Nurses’ Day, which celebrates nurses’ contribution to the health care system, we are also focusing on two nurses from Clinique Bon Pasteur.

May 12: the celebration of the International Nurses Day every year! Bound by tradition, Clinique Bon Pasteur also celebrated this event this year, as a means of paying tribute to our nurses.

Launched in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), this date has been chosen to commemorate Florence Nightingale’s birth. The latter, born in 1820, was a British nurse who pioneered the setting-up of the first science-based nursing school in London. She is also known for her contribution in the use of statistics in the field of health.

Like her, many nurses around the world are committed to their profession, and for some, it has passed down from generation to generation, like Michael Jerry Toussaint, nurse at Clinique Bon Pasteur. Having seen several family members in the profession, he has been motivated to carry on the family tradition. “I have that in my soul, in my blood, and I have been in this profession for 15 years now “. As for Sheela Kamayah, Nursing supervisor at Clinique Bon Pasteur, she chose this profession as she has always been prone to helping people: “I like to give a helping hand to people and alleviate their suffering, it is my vocation, and that is why I have chosen this profession which I have been practising for almost 20 years now”. For her, “Clinique Bon Pasteur gave me the opportunity to make my dream come true”.

According to the ICN, “the pandemic has exposed the enormous pressures our nurses are working under, while shining a light on their incredible commitment and courage”, and each nurse can have a different perspective on this pandemic. For Mr. Toussaint, he does not really feel exposed to the virus, and did not experience this lockdown period with a lot of stress, even if he was working at the clinic during this time: “Since we have not had any case of Covid at the clinic so far, I did not feel that I was really exposed”. He felt, however, that some members of the public were afraid of him because of his profession, although this is understandable, he said, given the situation in the country now. For Ms. Kamayah however, she has worked hard during the lockdown, and although she was not afraid for herself, the idea of possibly infecting her loved ones sent shivers down her spine. This second confinement was peculiar, as there were more patients coming to the clinic. According to her, during the first confinement, patients were afraid to come to the clinic, but this year, patients were more numerous, and some chose health centres like Clinique Bon Pasteur, where there were no Covid cases.

The theme for International Nurses Day 2021: The Nursing Profession: A Voice to Lead, the sub-theme being “A Vision for future healthcare”. For the ICN, this theme “reflects on the impact of Covid-19 on the health system and the nursing profession and how these might be affected into the future. Nurses, as the largest healthcare profession, must play an integral part in planning the future of healthcare”. Ms. Kamayah thinks this is an interesting topic, because nurses need to be encouraged to do so. As for Mr. Toussaint, he says he is already living it fully: “during my 15 years of service, this has been the case. As a nurse, we are there 24/7 at the patients’ bedside”

Like our two colleagues, many are in this profession at Clinique Bon Pasteur. Feel free to call Clinique Bon Pasteur for any health related issue on 401-9500, and if you come to our clinic, you will have the opportunity to see our nurses in action. To these men and women devoted night and day, we wish them a happy Nurses Day, a celebration of the noble acts accomplished by nurses for society!

World Health Day: a tribute to our Staff!

Posted on by afzal

This week has seen the celebration of the World Health Day. What a great opportunity to pay tribute to people working in the health sector, especially in this global health crisis era. However, as tributes have been paid across the globe to medical staff, we would like to highlight the role of our non-medical staff as well, so essential to the clinic’s smooth running.

Have you ever wondered why some people choose a health sector career? Salary or job security maybe? Not at all, according to some of Clinique Bon Pasteur’s staff members, who all agree on one thing. “It is a vocation, which can only be done if one likes this work, and above all, if one likes taking care of others,” says Michael L’Eveillé, Clinique Bon Pasteur’s Medical Supervisor. Thierry Fanchette, IT Manager at the clinic, agrees “It really is a vocation, even if it means taking risks, especially in this Covid era. You need to like what you have to do here”. Same thing for Frédéric Jean-Louis, Accounts Clerk at the clinic: “For me, it’s like working in the humanitarian field. I worked for several years in an NGO before joining Clinique Bon Pasteur”.

Patricia Ducray, Debt Collector at the clinic, goes even further. According to her, it is not just a matter of working in the health sector, but specifically at Clinique Bon Pasteur: “It is a family clinic, and there is a special bonding between members of the staff “. Her colleagues who have to work on site are actually on her mind every single day, as they are exposing themselves while working: “The management of the clinic allows some of us to work from home, and I am lucky to be one of them.” Frédéric Jean-Louis is also grateful to the clinic for allowing this: “Some of us help our colleagues remotely to move the work forward while working from home”.

Throughout their career at Clinique Bon Pasteur, our colleagues have lived different experiences, having been deeply moved by some of them. For Patricia Ducray, the pain associated with the death of a patient is always hard, but she is also overwhelmed with joy for every new born at the clinic. As for Michael L’Eveillé, he always draws his energy from situations like a smiling recovered patient who leaves the clinic after having been admitted a couple of days before in a semi-comatose state.

What is striking is the collaboration between colleagues within different departments. Staff members are regularly helping each other, facing challenges together, and developing other skills at the same time. Beyond his IT responsibilities, Thierry Fanchette also helps with accounting, especially for payroll. He also tries, as a supervisor, to provide psychological support to his colleagues in this health crisis era, to show that the management is there to support the staff. As for Michael L’Eveillé, he is facing a new situation these days, namely that of comforting patients who come to the clinic, not only with a clinical need, but also with an anxiety related to the risk of a Covid exposure. He sees himself as being more active in morally supporting patients these days, specifically with regards to this Covid related anxiety. And a memorable situation for Fréderic Jean-Louis is undoubtedly the day he had to leave his ledger book to support colleagues who were assisting a woman giving birth to her child in a vehicle in the clinic’s parking lot, the baby being undoubtedly in a real hurry to see the light of day!

But the most beautiful words from one of our interviewees, the most appropriate summary and conclusion to this glimpse into health-related professions come from Michael l’Eveillé: “In this profession, we are here to take care of people, and above all, the human touch is the most important thing ”, in line with the true values of Clinique Bon Pasteur!

World Secretaries Day: Ode to Francine Fanchette

Posted on by afzal

The World Secretaries Day has been celebrated in the United States for 70 years now. Historically, it has been celebrated as from the 1950s because of a shortage of qualified administrative staff in the post-war era. It aims at recognising the contribution of secretaries to the economy and attracting the labour force in this area. What a great opportunity to learn more about it with Francine Fanchette, who has been working in this field at Clinique Bon Pasteur for 26 years now.

Responsable d’Accueil since 2020 at Clinique Bon Pasteur, Francine Fanchette has gradually worked her way up as from 1995 when she started as a receptionist. Since then, she has persevered and studied to become, over the years, secretary and then Responsable d’Accueil. She draws her success on the one hand from her perseverance, and on the other hand from the fact that she has always been empowered by the management, including by getting necessary training. She already knew however that she wanted to build her career in this field, and took typing lessons when she was … 13 years old. After taking a position at Clinique Bon Pasteur, she completed a secretarial management course, thanks to the Clinic’s support.

In a nutshell, what is the responsibility of the Responsable d’Accueil at Clinique Bon Pasteur today? “My role is to make sure that a room and a time slot is available for all doctors, so that we can organise their appointments for them to see their patients. I also act as a bridge between the doctors and the Clinic’s management. In addition, I work with the reception team, listening to each member, motivating them, and finding solutions to problems together”. Francine Fanchette also sits on a panel at the Clinic, where she works on immigration medical files for the Canadian consulate.

In her 26-year career, she has witnessed many changes at Clinique Bon Pasteur, especially in the technological era when files began to be computerised, a change to which she was fiercely opposed at that time. However, today she finds it very useful that all medical appointments are handled on an online system, as it makes the job so much more effective.

And what’s the secret to finding the motivation to go to work during all these years, and especially in this Covid era? “I am a jolly person, and I always try to find the best out of the worst situations.” The Responsable d’Accueil draws her motivation from this motto, especially since it is extremely important to be able to keep a cheerful mood and go to work during the Covid lockdown. “We have to motivate the team, because other people need us, and that’s our job!”

And the last word? “I love my job at the Clinic, and I know this place like the back of my hand. I have worked for the company for so long that I became part of the furniture, as this idiom says. But my collaboration with Clinique Bon Pasteur is even older than a lot of furniture that we now have at the Clinic “she relates humorously!

If you need to make an appointment at Clinique Bon Pasteur, feel free to call on the 401-9500, and if you happen to bump into her, and she will be happy to welcome you with her humility and contagious humour!

The RozarMedicalLaboratory Centre: State-of-the-art medical check-ups at Clinique Bon Pasteur

Posted on by afzal

This month we are diving into some aspects of the laboratory within Clinique Bon Pasteur’s premises, the RozarMedicalLaboratory Centre. It has been over twenty years that the laboratory has been established there, and regularly performs nearly all required medical tests.

As we know that our patients often have questions about medical check-ups, we spoke with José Rozar, director of the laboratory, who walks us through some specifics about the laboratory.

When should we undergo a medical check-up?
At the RozarMedicalLaboratory Centre, it is recommended that you first see your General Practitioner, who will be able to advise you on targeted check-ups required based on your general health. Also, if you have a specialist who is treating you for a specific disease, the latter will know when and why to channel you to the laboratory for specific tests. It is therefore not advisable to go to the laboratory for blood tests without seeing your doctor first.

And what can we learn from a blood test?
“Everything and nothing at all” says José Rozar. We can indeed detect anemia, or a disease that dates back to your birth, or the tests can establish that you are in perfect health. “The most common health issues that are detected at the laboratory are diabetes, anemia in some women, or cases of hypercholesterolemia” However, it is good to know that a blood test does not necessarily reveal all types of abnormalities . Brain cancer or yeast infection, for example, will not necessarily be detected through a blood test.
Complementarity of the laboratory technician and your physician
José Rozar reminds us that “tests do not work alone, as it is the role of the referring physician to interpret these results for you.” Your general practitioner or specialist has an overview of your medical history, and sometimes that of your family. It will therefore be up to him/her to interpret these results, explain them to you, and prescribe any treatment that may be necessary following this medical check-up.” It is important that a lab technician does not take on the role of the doctor, and interpret these results for the patient”.

When to have a blood test?
If you have an existing pathology and you already have a medical follow-up regarding this, there sometimes are regular tests that your doctor will be prescribing. Otherwise, it is generally recommended to have a blood test once a year as from the age of 35.

 

Thus, if you are not feeling very well, or if you just want to get a general check-up, no need to rush to the lab. Instead, you should consider making an appointment with your doctor first. You will then go to the laboratory for a check-up, where you will meet José Rozar and his team for the required check-ups.
Appointments for medical visits or for laboratory tests at Clinique Bon Pasteur can be made on 401 9500.