Care is just a call away for Covid-19 patients

GLENHILLS based NPO, Each One Reach 1.org has set up a call centre to support Covid-19 patients on their road to recovery.

A trained social worker calls patients to offer advice, share sound scientific knowledge and calm fears.

Along with this, the NPO is putting together immune booster support packs, which include a mask, hand sanitiser, immune boosting supplement and informative flyers.

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These will be distributed to Covid-19 patients, said Dr Eshia Govender, founder of the NPO who holds a degree in medical science.

“Many people, who have tested positive begin to panic and feel fear. They are unsure of what to do next. When they tell other people that they have tested positive, they are isolated and do not have the support they should receive to stay calm,” she said.

The immune booster support packs are sponsored by Star Retailer Foundation, who have partnered with Each One Reach1.org.

“One is providing the resources, one is providing the online support, all of which is free to any person who is underprivileged. As soon as you test positive, you don’t have to run around, you can call our call centre and we can assist with the next steps and break down myths. We provide accurate scientific knowledge and we guide you through the 14 day period in terms of your diet, mental wellness as well as emotional health. Because people are isolated, they find themselves seeking some form of comfort and they have that on the other side of the phone. We also offer spiritual support, if they need prayer,” said Govender.

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She is appealing to the community to donate airtime bundles to support the initiative.

“This is not a toll free number. At this stage we have to finance it. We are looking for anyone is willing to partner with us in providing airtime and a stipend to the social worker, Nadia Naidoo who is currently making about three calls a day,” she said.

The flyer includes these tips for Coviud-19 patients:

1. Wear your mask over your nose as one droplet from a sneeze or cough is all it takes to transmit or become infected.

2. Maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus as not everyone shows symptoms

3. If you have no symptoms but have been exposed, stay at home. Some symptoms take as long 12 days to show.

4. Invest in an oximeter. It is a simple inexpensive way to monitor your oxygen levels.

5. Take your vitamins on an empty stomach with warm water, 30 minutes prior to your meal. However continue to eat healthy to increase energy levels and immunity. Avoid food that causes inflammation.

6. Drink a warm ginger, honey, turmeric tea. Chew on a garlic, onion and turmeric paste to reduce inflammation. Avoid cold drinks as they restrict circulation and thus absorption. Steam regularly to loosen mucus inflammation.

7. Sleep on your stomach to reduce mucus build up.

For more information, call the Each One Reach1.org. hotline on 061 536 6249.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za). At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.  

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