Appeal for volunteers to join virus battle
A NATIONWIDE call is being made for health and non-health-care professionals to volunteer their services in the fight against Covid-19.
The SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) is calling up registered health-care practitioners to join forces with serving members in the fight against the pandemic. The operation was under way and is envisaged to continue until June 23.
In a statement, the SANDF said SAMHS was reinforcing, regrouping and strengthening its medical capacity in the wake of the national State of Disaster.
“This is within the prescripts of the lockdown Regulations as stipulated in the National Disaster Management Act of 2002, section 27, sub-section 2.”
It said the following categories of registered health-care practitioners were encouraged to apply: medical doctors, professional nurses, enrolled nurses and auxiliary nurses, clinical associates and operational emergency care practitioners.
Interested candidates were to contact the following SAMHS directors for enlistment with contact details, ID number and registration number: Director Medicine at 012 367 9156; Director Nursing at 012 367 9168; Director Emergency Military Medical Care at 012 671 5005; EMS with previous military service, Director Military Health Reserve at 012 671 5153.
“Prospective candidates are to report at the nearest Military Health unit upon receiving communication from the Reserve Force office,” the statement said.
Mediclinic has called for healthcare volunteers, with or without experience in health care, to assist within hospitals during the pandemic. The group said the pandemic had created a need for assistance in certain roles in health care, and individuals with or without a clinical background and those who had worked in the healthcare sector, but not currently doing so, were strongly encouraged to volunteer. More information on the process for signing up can be found on the Mediclinic website.
Premier Alan Winde called on health-care workers to volunteer.
“We have over the past few weeks received numerous requests to volunteer and offers to help, and we are now asking local medically trained personnel to join our database for possible call-up when needed. Globally, we have seen an outpouring of help and support in the fight against this virus, and it is our hope that our own residents will respond to our call with the willingness to help,” said Winde. Individuals can register on the Covid19 Volunteer Recruitment website.
Aid organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) said non-medical volunteers would be needed at their drive-thru testing station in Bellville.
GOTG provincial medical co-ordinator Dr Naeem Kathrada said: “Volunteers will need to be stationed at the gate to check that the person has a reference number and an appointment. At the second station volunteers will give the person hand sanitiser and a mask and check their form. The third station is the actual swabbing station. Here only our dedicated, trained nurses will be working,” said Kathrada.