AS the school holiday continues and South Africans lament the beach bans, spare a thought for hospital staff who worked through December, and continue to work through January, wearing layers of hot protective gear as the second COVID-19 wave intensifies.
“Keeping our exhausted healthcare workers motivated is a real challenge,” said disaster medicine consultant for NGO, Right to Care, Theo Ligthelm.
“We wanted to reward them in some way, and we approached some of South Africa’s top quick service restaurants to help us provide a meal for those who are working at the field hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay – the largest hospital in the Eastern Cape with 1 485 beds.”
The Rev Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital provides treatment to around 250 patients daily. It was established in collaboration with Volkswagen SA and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the German government aid agency. The field hospital is manned by 200 staff members per shift, including nurses, doctors, security staff, porters and cleaners.
Right to Care supports the Eastern Cape Department of Health in running this hospital.
It has provided 154 youth workers to assist the staff in the hospital, as well as an eight-person team who are mentoring staff.
The youth workers were trained by St John’s Ambulance Brigade, to assist the nursing staff in the field hospital and can utilise their qualification after COVID-19 to render care at homes in the community.
“The staff are working under extreme stress in what was previously Volkswagen SA’s factory. A large number of these are youth workers receive only a basic stipend, but they are dedicated to their jobs, whether they are assisting patients or cleaning,” Ligthelm said.
“We were absolutely delighted to tell the staff that between Debonairs Pizza and Wimpy, each staff member will be given a R100 voucher every month for the next three months as a token of appreciation for their hard work.”
These 2 400 gratitude meal vouchers can be redeemed by staff at nine Debonairs Pizza outlets and 17 Wimpy outlets in the surrounding areas.
Rirhandzu Manganye, brand manager of Debonairs Pizza, explained, “Many staff who are working in hospitals have contracted the disease or lost family members due to COVID-19. We were informed that several staff (members) have resigned due to the workload and stress, which has increased pressure on the remaining staff. Urgent motivation is needed to acknowledge those on the front line for their care.”
Jacques Cronje, marketing executive of Wimpy, said they were calling on other businesses to recognise healthcare workers.
“We honour the selfless act of these healthcare workers and welcome them into our restaurants to sit and have a well-deserved break of even for a take away, as we have all the safety measures in place,” he added.
A caregiver said, “It is very hard to work a 12-hour shift with sick patients in a very warm building with a mask and protective clothing. Being able to collect a meal from a restaurant on the way home makes me feel appreciated. Thank you for thinking about us.”
One of the patients, who reported that he had been taken to the field hospital by ambulance, said there were so many ambulances arriving, it resembled a taxi rank.
“The carers took me to the bathroom in a wheelchair with oxygen. They assisted me, so that I am one of the many who were able to walk out. The angels working at the field hospital deserve the praise and accolades.”
Ligthelm concluded, “The building is merely a shell; the most important component is the staff who make this hospital a place where patients can be cared for and feel safe: from the security guards at the gate, to the care givers at the bedside, the doctors treating the patients, the nursing staff, the helpers handling linen, cleaners in the ablution blocks, the workers removing the medical waste, admin and support staff, and so many more.”
- Should anyone wish to support the healthcare workers at this facility, contact Nicola Marais at 078 800 5947 or nicola.marais@righttocare.org.
Issued by: Right to Care
