GEORGE NEWS - Community health workers (CHWs) are making an impactful difference in the lives of young and old in residential neighbourhoods within the George municipal boundaries, including Uniondale.

George Herald had a peek into what their work involves - from supporting the downcast with a kind word, giving a warm embrace to an elderly person or educating the uninformed about preventive healthcare, to handing out adult nappies, dressing wounds and trying to convince some patients to stick to their chronic meds.

They visit homes, workplaces and community spaces to give advice, do check-ups, give treatment for things like HIV and TB, and offer advice on nutrition, family planning, pregnancy and child health. They also do referrals for psychological counselling.

All CHWs in the George municipal area are managed by three local non-profit organisations (NPOs) that act as managing agencies for Western Cape Government Health and Wellness (WCGHW), which funds the service under the umbrella of its Integrated Health and Wellness Package.

Capella Vita services Thembalethu, Bethesda services George Central and various outlying areas (including Uniondale), and Nurse Nextdoor services Pacaltsdorp and some outlying areas.

The CHWs form an indispensable link between local health facilities (clinics and hospitals) and the community. 

They work with patients who are referred to them, but while moving around in the community, they also identify a lot of cases in which intervention is needed.

Challenging but fulfilling

The CHWs face a lot of challenges, says Pearl Averies, a supervisor of the Bethesda CHW team.

"You often get doors slammed in your face. There is still some stigma attached to CHWs because of the previous system in which home visits were synonymous with HIV and TB in a family. But through our ongoing work, we hope to get rid of that association."

Sr Marsia Williams of Capella Vita says working in informal settings means it is often difficult to find clients referred by health facilities. There is unemployment, poverty and substance abuse, which increases the risk when interacting with the community. 

"CHWs may also experience anxiety over heavy caseloads. They have to negotiate gender-based barriers and things like illegal electricity connections, which pose a real danger, especially on rainy days. They mostly move around on foot. But it is a very fulfulling work, because you can be there for people who are sometimes so helpless and really need your support."

Brunay Pieteren, a CHW of Bethesda, during a hand-washing demonstration to the little ones of Vlinders Kleuterskool. Part of the CHWs’ job is to do education in preventative health measures. Photos: Alida de Beer

Invaluable work

Nadia Ferreira, district spokesperson for the WCGHW, says the work of these NPOs is invaluable across the Western Cape.

"They render community-based health and wellness services, which involve an array of interventions that support the actions people take to maintain health and well-being, prevent illness and manage disabilities, care for minor health problems and long-term conditions, and recover from periods of acute illness, injuries, hospitalisation and end-of-life care.

"The WCGHW aims to strengthen its collaboration with the NPOs through the creation of formalised partnerships that are continued annually, and are based on performance that is evaluated annually. The aim is to keep people healthy, independent and active in their communities."

Xolisile Tshunga (centre) and his sister, Nomfundo Qokela, and brother-in-law, Bonani, flanking him, with their son, Live, down in front. The CHWs who are involved in Tshunga’s treatment are Bongiswa Phambukelo, Sisanda Ngongo and Primrose Myeki. Their colleagues of Capella Vita are Ryan Philander (front, left), Joanne Williams (front, right) and Sr Marsia Williams (back, right). 

Help on the road to healing

  Xolisile Tshunga (45) is an example of someone who benefitted greatly from intervention by community healthcare workers (CHWs) who render invaluable healthcare services in the George municipal area. 

He was unable to walk and his speech was affected after suffering a stroke in April.

When his sister, Nomfundo Qokela, took him to the local clinic, they recommended that he should get physiotherapy, and he was referred to the state therapist. "The first appointment we could get was only in late September. I did not know what to do. Early treatment after a stroke is so important for recovery."

She was extremely grateful when some CHWs of Capella Vita were sent to their home to help. Exercises and massage techniques were shown to Tshunga's family members so they could help him get better. His nephew, the 11-year-old Live, is one of his biggest helpers, making sure that his uncle's affected limbs get a regular massage.

When George Herald visited their home last week, Tshunga was out of his wheelchair and was able to walk around with a walking stick, and his speech is much improved. He is still getting regular visits from the CHWs.

Nontsoni Kundile (in the wheelchair) and her grandson, Ayabulela Manyathi (back, right) with some staff of Capella Vita: Ryan Philander, Cindy Saphula, Sr Mersia Williams, Thelma Nqumba and Joanne Williams (front right).

Nontsoni Kundile (73), who lives with her children and grandchildren, got a small wound on her foot that progressively grew bigger and infected. It became so severe that she was eventually bed-bound. According to Sr Mersia Williams of Capella Vita, the CHWs became aware of her plight during a door-to-door outreach in the area.

"Thanks to regular wound treatments by the workers, she healed and was walking around again by their fourth or fifth visit. Unfortunately, she subsequently suffered a stroke, but our CHWs are also supporting her and her family on this challenging journey."

These are just two of a myriad of examples of the ways in which CHWs contribute to the well-being of the community.

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