The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) branch in Nelson Mandela Bay can breathe a sigh of relief due to a R4 million investment by Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), that will result in the lab being able to conduct up to 3 000 COVID-19 tests per day, double its current capacity of 1 500.
VWSA assisted the NHLS by performing extensive renovations to turn an open office space into a fully-fledged molecular virology laboratory in the space of 18 days.
The company also analysed and recommended improvements to the NHLS’s testing processes to increase efficiency.
“We need to be able to trace the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to fight it – the faster we act, the better we can keep it from spreading further,” said outgoing VWSA chairperson and MD, Thomas Schaefer.
During a recent visit to the three main COVID-19 hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay with Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, Schaefer also distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital, Dora Nginza Hospital and Livingstone Hospital.
The PPE, that was also handed out to other regional primary care clinics and COVID-19 testing centres in the metro, consists of 2 million latex and nitrile gloves, 65 000 disposable gowns, 50 000 N95 personalised masks and 1 000 visors.
VWSA also handed over 200 digital infrared thermometers, 150 portable fingertip pulse oximeters and 40 stand-alone table-top pulse oximeters, which are critical medical equipment for the assessment and treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“Our front-line healthcare workers are in dire need of the PPE in order to feel safe. It is our wish that this PPE will bring relief and hope to our healthcare workers who have been toiling in difficult circumstances to treat the COVID-19 patients,” Schaefer said.
Mabuyane said that both these donations came at a critical stage during the peak period of the virus, when more infections are expected. “This donation is a crucial addition to our arsenal against the coronavirus, particularly here in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, the epicentre of the virus.”
“There are disturbing levels of social distancing fatigue, particularly here in this metro, where we have seen people socialising as if there is no pandemic in our midst. That is why this metro is an epicentre.”
He said that the PMU is already responding to the challenges and that recruitment processes for tertiary centres have commenced.
Oxygen reticulation repairs at Livingstone Hospital and Dora Nginza Hospital have also begun, with the EMS oxygen supply arrangement finalised. The construction of plinths for other hospitals across the province is also continuing.
“In the coming weeks the team will focus on executing the plan to recruit a cadre of 500 ward assistants. This cadre will provide non-clinical support to the nursing staff.
“Planning for recruitment intervention for data capturers will also commence. This is critical to promote data integrity presented by the Department of Health,” Mabuyane said.
He added that they will also finalise plans for the temporary deployment of 350 final year student nurses in September. This forms part of practical experience required to enable the release of qualified resources to pressure points.
