Learning from the Northern Territory's response to infectious diseases

Introduction
Across the decades the Northern Territory (NT) has experienced many outbreaks of infectious (communicable) diseases and still encounters diseases eradicated in other parts of Australia. This project examined the history of the NT’s management of poliomyelitis, tuberculosis and leprosy (Hansens disease), implementation of quarantine and projects forward to the COVID-19 pandemic response. There is a focus on the role and experience of the nurse with a comparison to how we have both advanced to new technologies and practices but also maintained past public health approaches to prevent disease outbreaks.
Description of research
Drawing from historical accounts of the old Darwin Hospital, Channel Island Quarantine Station and records from the CDU Nursing Museum, a qualitative phenomenological approach has been implemented to collate narratives and images demonstrating the challenges faced with infectious disease management in the NT.
Summary
Project findings identify there are many intriguing outlines of historical disease outbreaks in the NT with nurses facing remoteness, weather elements, limited health staff and resources. This project explores the management of polio in the 1950s when the Darwin hospital only had 5 iron lungs, to caring for patients with tuberculosis in alignment with the National Tuberculosis Act which provided citizens with free diagnostic chest x-rays, medical care, and a tuberculosis allowance while being treated. The NT also hosted the remote Channel Island quarantine station (1884-1931), recognised as a national leprosarium (1931-1955) presenting both physical and mental challenges for the Sisters working there. Today the NT has emerged as a national quarantine leader with the establishment of the Centre for National Resilience, Howard Springs Quarantine Facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, a service led by nurses and the health department.
Conclusion
The project findings highlight the diversity and challenges encountered in the NT to manage disease outbreaks. It also validates the importance of nurses as leaders, demonstrating their resilience and innovation when working in these remote and regional areas.