Conclusions Bearing in mind that universal precautions play an important role in minimising and preventing exposure of health care workers to pathogens [9] there is a need for developing strategies to promote the use of universal precautions which take into account behaviour change and accrual of knowledge including its integration into practice. The country needs an obligatory training pro- gramme in universal precautions for health staff, invol- vement of senior health staff in the policies and their implementation, and systems for monitoring the appro- priate use of equipment, and establishing post exposure reporting system. Finally, routine immunisation of health care workers against hepatitis B is required. The Ministry of Public Health should seek an appropriate mechanism to vaccinate all health care workers through- out the country.