Limpopo nursing students to fast-track Covid-19 jab rollout
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba says the students which have been identified to assist with the vaccination programme are almost done with their studies to be professional nurses.
LIMPOPO – Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba congratulated final-year nursing students of the University of Venda (Univen) for taking the lead in volunteering their services to be trained as vaccinators.
“As we are in the middle of the third wave of the Covid-19, we might need extra hands to help vaccinate our communities.
“We appreciate and salute you for your willingness to volunteer to help us with our vaccination programme.”
Ramathuba was speaking in the Univen Stadium in Thohoyandou on July 12 when welcoming the deployment of the 84 final-year nursing students who will be trained as Covid-19 vaccinators as part of government’s plan to expand the pool of qualified vaccinators to fast-track the vaccination programme.
The University of Limpopo and the Limpopo Nursing College will also deploy more staff as soon as they are done with the current examination block.
“We have identified these students to assist in the vaccination programme as they are almost done with their studies to be professional nurses.
“As we have moved to the category of 35 to 49 years, we will need more manpower to be equal to the task when it comes to vaccination, we will be opening sites, and all our clinics will become vaccination sites, so that these students will come in handy to ease the burden on our health care professionals, said Ramathuba.
She encouraged all eligible age group to enroll for their vaccines using the Electronic Vaccination Delivery System, via WhatsApp or by SMS.
Rambani Rasalanavho, an officer and one of the trainers from the Vhembe Reginal Training Centre, said the students will be deployed to various communities around Vhembe.
A final-year nursing student, Pfunzo Myahabo said they have taken the initiative of volunteering their services as a step forward towards the curbing of the pandemic.
