Healthcare workers at Heidelberg Hospital have their say

“We were informed about Covid in January 2020. In February, we started to educate the staff and by the time lockdown was implemented in March, staff were already applying the regulations,” Nkonyana said.

With a staff complement of only two, Nkonyana and her colleague, nurse Chaba Nkosi, is responsible for guiding, coordinating and supporting staff and for the clinical management of infected patients. June and July were described as the busiest and most challenging months. The total number of admitted Covid patients peaked at 30 in July.

“There are always uncertainties during a pandemic. When the pandemic hit us, everyone worked together to help fight the disease. From the cleaners and security guards to every frontline health worker. Everyone was dedicated and committed. To be a health-care worker is a calling. We never had staff who would not come to work or would not look after patients,” Nkonyana said.

The ban on alcohol that was implemented alleviated the stress for the frontline workers slightly. Nkonyana took a two-week, well-deserved break at the end of June.

“I was exhausted and made my rounds to check on staff and patients before my leave. There was an elderly lady recovering after being very sick with Covid. She was feeling better and told me how much she was looking forward to being with her family again. As I was about to leave, I was called back and within five minutes from when I saw her, she had died. It was then when I realised just how vicious Covid was,” Nkonyana said.

The reality of people dying from the disease is real but there is always hope. Nkonyana said the community should be open-minded about the vaccine and spoke about professionals who worked hard behind the scene to stop the spread of the virus.

“Children are vaccinated after birth to protect them against diseases, Covid should be treated the same,” she said. She also spoke about the electronic vaccine app for health-care workers where they need to register should they want the vaccine.

Nozuko Makaula, Pinky Bodibe and Nelia Naude, as the dedicated Covid ward nurses, shared some of their experiences.

“The fear I saw in patients’ eyes when they were tested positive will stay with me. It was like being perceived as the angel of death,” Makaula said.

Bodibe said: “We were short-staffed and worked a lot of overtime. The government should hire more health-care workers to relieve the stress.”

Naude added: “My heart was very sad to see people die, knowing I did what I could and can’t do anything more to save them.”

Nnkonyana concluded: “The past year was, and until we win the fight in the spread of this disease, will continue to be trying times, but we are thankful towards the community for their support and understanding. It is never an easy task to tell the family they cannot visit loved ones in the hospital. We had many spiritual leaders who prayed for staff and patients.

We also received numerous donations from the community. We are grateful towards everyone who stands by as we continue our oath as health-care workers to care for and protect patients.”