In March, 2020, Community Health Workers (CHWs) from Zuurbekom Clinic attended a COVID-19 training session with the Department of Health, in Westonaria (the Westrand region of Johannesburg). We were given flu vaccine shots, and the Department of Health (DoH) showed the CHWs how to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
But in the Zuurbekom area, the lockdown has stopped CHWs from visiting households. This is because Zuurbekom Clinic didn’t receive any PPE or screening tools. CHW team leaders now assist the nurses and doctors at the facility. Other CHWs sign the attendance register, check and record body temperature of patients, and remain in the facility until we sign out. Food parcels were delivered only to clients on chronic medication on 17 April 2020.
There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Zuurbekom as yet. Patients queueing outside the facility consultation room maintain social distances of 2-3metres. Everyone receives drops of hand sanitiser from the security as we enter the facility doors. The first screening campaign and pamphleteering about COVID-19 was launched on April 21 2020.
Zuurbekom Clinic finally received PPEs for CHWs on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.
This article was submitted on 22 May 2020. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text.
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