WITH the Covid-19 pandemic gripping the nation, the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust’s staff who, work at its on-site Respite Unit, made many tough choices and sacrifices to protect their families and their patients.
Sphe Gamede, the nursing services manager and the loving mother of two children, said the staff made a unanimously bold decision to sleep in the training room rather than return home during the peaks of the pandemic.
“To ensure the safety of the patients and their families, they were so willing to make that sacrifice. Some have children and grandchildren they look after, and it added to the stress and anxiety as they would work for a week at a time without seeing their loved ones,” said Gamede.
“With both waves, the organisation has adapted according to how the virus has played out and I have the utmost respect and admiration for my staff. Nursing is not just a profession, it is driven by a passion to care, love and serve and these are the qualities my team have shown since lockdown.”
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As the full nationwide lockdown was initiated last year, HACT was quick to initiate training among staff and its beneficiaries, this included education and an emphasis on strict infection control.
Each patient, before admission, needs to complete a Covid-19 test.
Should they test positive, their family members are informed and they are referred to nearby health facilities.
Patients who receive a negative test result are quickly admitted to the Unit.
With a need to help others, Gamede is unafraid to don full PPE for her trips into the Valley of 1000 Hills, where she swabs and tests patients who are gravely ill with late-stage AIDS or cancer and need to be admitted to the Unit. She then gives them masks and sanitiser and educates the families on Covid-19 safety protocols.
The Respite Unit is currently providing care to 18 patients, compared to the usual 24, as it ensures there are fewer staff on site and a reduced chance of any form of infection taking place. As the current wave subsides, the remaining beds will be filled up.
“For all of our patients, we closely monitor their health and wellbeing and we also have patients who are too nervous to leave. There is more anxiety about going home and facing covid and because of our patients’ high vulnerability to infections we are now keeping patients longer,” said a caring Gamede. “The stress of not being able to visit normally, or for patients to see their families regularly, has also added to the stress. If someone is passing away, families do get to see them, but otherwise visits at the Unit are through a window.”
Despite being at a new maximum capacity, the Unit continues to receive referrals and Sisters Sphe Gamede and Julie Hornby bravely go into the broad Highway area and provide home-based care and end-of-life care to cancer patients.
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HACT staff, including the Respite Unit team, have lost family members to Covid-19 and this brought the severity of the infectious disease closer to home.
“It was really hard as we wanted to rally around our colleagues, go to the home, attend the funeral and offer the support. But our staff understand that how we function normally can’t happen right now. We are a close-knit unit, almost a family. We are also now even more aware of mental health issues and touch base often with each other to ensure everyone is doing well,” said Gamede.
With the importance of the role, Gamede has taken her responsibility seriously and was ready to carry the pressure that accompanies her work.
“With Covid, it hasn’t been easy. I have to make sure that I look after my patients, staff and family. It’s thanks to the support I receive from the whole HACT team and my family that has really kept me going,” she smiled.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
