Grey skies and a strong autumn wind greeted nurses and health workers as they brought their Primary Health Care Mobile Unit to Florida. This week marks the second leg of City of Johannesburg Region C’s Covid-19 screening and testing initiative, which kicked off outside Florida Square on 14 April.
Concern and apprehension were evident on the faces of Florida residents as they waited for the opportunity to sit down with health workers to evaluate any suspicious symptoms they may be experiencing. Many did so simply as a precaution, and while most left the table relieved, some were ushered to one side to await a second meeting inside a specially erected tent.
The screening process consists of three phases, with only those suspected of being at risk progressing from phase to phase. Step one is a six-point questionnaire that checks possible travel history, recent contacts, as well as previous and current medical conditions. Step two is a more thorough medical exam that tests blood pressure and temperature, along with an extensive medical history survey.
Should there be enough evidence to warrant step three, a nurse will remove a cotton swab from its sealed tube, and take a physical sample from both the back of the subject’s throat and deep inside their nasal cavity. Nurses and health workers were at their friendliest and most helpful as they sought to calm the nerves of a community wrestling with the uncertainty of the coronavirus.
To avoid any stigmatisation the nurses and health workers conducting the tests have been advised not to reveal their identities. Even the senior staff were reluctant to give additional information, but did stress that everything was being done to mitigate the spread of the virus. There will still be several more screening sites across Roodepoort throughout May and June.
Unfortunately, many residents were surprised to see the mobile unit in the streets, claiming that no information was given. “I didn’t know they were doing screening in Florida, but I’m glad they are here,” said resident Charlene Edmunds, who went on to call friends and relatives to inform them of the opportunity.
The mobile unit will be moving to Fleurhof from Wednesday where it is expected to see out the week, subject to operational requirements.
