SINCE March, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole has relied on a small team of only nine contact tracers to reach a vast population of residents who were in contact with COVID-19 positive patients. This was done to curb the further spread of COVID-19 within the metropole and to ensure the safety of families and the community at large.
Nelson Mandela Bay municipality acting mayor, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, has commended the good work done by a young team of NMBM Environmental Health practitioners who are the foot soldiers of tracing COVID-19 positive related contacts.
Mayor Buyeye said: “Although our metropole was named as a hotspot we managed to turn the tide with the help of these contact tracers who had to be moved from their offices to the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium isolation site as their work exposed them directly to the virus.
“Despite the challenges the team faced, they continued to do their work with diligence and commitment. They have shared with us the challenges they faced since March which included being refused entrance at some homes or having dogs unleashed on them as communities initially stigmatised COVID-19.”
The Mayor said it was important to highlight the significant role played by the tracers as they helped to curb the infection rate and saved many lives.
NMBM contact tracers reached a total of 13 007 contacts since starting work in March with 4 344 contacts testing positive.
NMBM official and contact tracer Msimelelo Buhlungu said the work had taken its toll on the entire team which also included data capturers and supporting interns, physically and psychologically.
“It has not been an easy journey. Our work went beyond just tracing the contacts, we were also social workers and found ourselves motivating and encouraging contacts to come to the stadium for isolation to ensure their full recovery and safe guard their families,” said Buhlungu.
“Some resisted as they did not want to leave their comfort zones but it had to be done to make sure their loved ones were safe.
“We have cried as this team and we have laughed. We have been called names by residents because people took photos of us when we started working and they were circulated on social media.
“Fake news peddlers accused us of being the ones who actually infect people with COVID-19. Some residents unleashed their dogs on us but we forged ahead,” said Buhlungu.
Despite meeting thousands of COVID-19 positive patients, the NMBM contact tracers said they were grateful none of the team members had been infected with the virus so far.
Team leader Buyiswa Deliwe said: “This experience has taught us that proper use of the personal protective equipment has major benefits. Our teams went out armed with knowledge and covered from head to toe with PPEs and we believe this has contributed to the impressive non-infection story we tell.”
NMBM Disaster Management Chairperson Shane Brown also commended the good work done by the tracers saying their services were equally important as the role played by the nurses and doctors as they all fed into the same work stream that worked tirelessly to ensure that the COVID-19 curve was flattened in NMBM
“We must, however, not let our guard down. The last thing we want is to be hit by a second wave of infections. Residents should continue to wear their cloth masks and adhere to the hygiene regulations in place.
“The fight is not over yet,” Brown said.
