GP launches campaign group to help slow spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in rural Highland communities
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A BEAULY and Muir of Ord GP is mounting a determined campaign to ensure every busy location in smaller towns and villages has adequate supplies of hand sanitiser.
Dr Ross Jaffrey believes the rural Highlands has a unique opportunity to fend off the worst of the coronavirus onslaught given its low population density and relatively small number of shops with high footfall.
Having set up the Safe Hands Save Lives Facebook page, the 44-year-old’s message clearly chimed - with 670 joining the group within the first 48 hours.
He also enlisted the promotional help of Ross County FC, although the idea of getting their goalkeepers to hammer home the “safe hands” message was stymied by the lockdown.
Dr Jaffrey, who runs the Croyard Road Medical Practices in Beauly and Muir of Ord, with a weekly surgery in Cannich, acted after learning that some premises simply couldn’t source enough hand sanitiser.
“The basic aim is to promote simple steps to avoid COVID-19 transmission,” the dad of two stressed.
“During the lockdown, only essential movement is permitted, with the shop environment often such that COVID-19 can spread. A number of smaller shops have increased footfall, particularly in towns and villages beyond Inverness.
“People with mild cold-like features can be super-spreaders and not know it, but through good hand washing, gelling, spraying, social-distancing and not touching your face, we can help hold the virus in its tracks.”
Having worked locally for the past 14 years, Dr Jaffrey understands how the area differs from big city epicentres of coronavirus.
“If we do stick to the social disciplining and washing hands we will not have the same problems you see on telly,” he stressed.
“With our Prime Minister Boris Johnson unfortunately going into intensive care, that is probably going to galvanise the message.
“We’ve really got a chance to slow this down to the point that it will help Raigmore Hospital greatly.
“In a more highly dense urban population, it is harder, but in small communities everyone tends to shop in the same place, so if you reduce the risk there as much as you can then you can protect people.”
Dr Jaffrey quickly sourced 250 litres of hand sanitiser after contacting firms including Loch Ness Spirits and Dornoch Distillery.
“There’s been a great response,” he said. “I’ve had interest from Inverness, but there’s no way I could even begin to supply every shop or premises in the city.
“What I can do is supply the shop in Cannich, or in places like Muir of Ord and Beauly.
“We’ve also discovered there are carers and volunteer groups who just don’t have the stuff, so we’re working hard to meet the demand.
“This is a virus that is easily killed, but we can’t be complacent. With a lack of testing, the figures reported are not a true reflection of what is circulating.
“Complacency can translate into more risky behaviour, so we need to reinforce the message.
“We are lucky in this part of the world and we have the chance to avoid this spreading to more vulnerable groups in our community.”
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