Media Release: COVID discharge: Ria Makhwenkwe

For Immediate Release
17 July 2020

Ria is going home – almost!  Sixty-four-year-old Ria Makhwenkwe, from Thembalethu has survived Covid-19.

During the first couple of days of her admission at George Hospital, Ria was critically ill, unable to speak more than a word at a time without resting.

Through the dedicated care of the team in the Covid ICU, supported by a tireless team of support services, Ria is nearly ready to be discharged back home. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have survived. This is a really scary illness and I wish to never experience anything like it again! Thank you to everyone who took such good care of me, night and day”, she said.

The George Hospital Team wishes Ria all the best for the future.

-END –

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health

Media Statement: IDP Manager for Garden Route District Municipality passes away

For Immediate Release
17 July 2020

He will be remembered as a ‘humble, kind, calm and collected’ colleague

“It is with shock and broken hearts that we learned of the passing of one of our own employees yesterday to COVID-19,” said Alderman Booysen, Executive Mayor for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM). Integrated Development Planning (IDP) Manager, Mr Mzukisi Cekiso is no longer with the GRDM. “Our prayers go out to his wife, child, family and friends – the District will never be the same again,” said Alderman Booysen. “The sun went down during the day.”

‘Mzu’, as he was fondly referred to by everyone, brought a breath of fresh air to the institution with his appointment on 1 February 2018. Part and parcel of his responsibilities were to manage and coordinate the IDP, Public Participation and Intergovernmental Relations functions for the district.

During a Zoom meeting today, 17 July 2020, with employees at GRDM, Alderman Booysen described Mzu as a man who often “presented his strong side to others”, who was also in contrast “a light-hearted person with a lot of ambitions”. Mayor Booysen said when Mzu bought a new vehicle he requested permission from Mzu to take it for a drive. Mzu jokingly responded: “my vehicle starts with only my own fingerprint”. Employees all have fond and happy memories of their engagements with Mzu.

Sadly, Alderman Booysen recalled one of the last messages Mzu sent to his wife Elethu in which he stated that “this COVID-19 nonsense is painful”. A scary and mind-opening fact about the seriousness of the virus.

GRDM Municipal Manager Mr Monde Stratu encouraged all Councillors and employees to be vigilant during this period because the COVID-19 Coronavirus is “vicious and knows no boundaries”. He also pleaded to employees, especially men, not to think that by avoiding to admit oneself to the hospital a person would be perceived as “brave at hearted”. He said: “You should seek medical assistance should the need arise”.

Mr Lusanda Menze, GRDM Executive Manager for Planning and Economic Development when asked to share his thoughts about Mzu, said: “A great son of the soil! Mzu’s passing came as a shock to many of us. I was in daily contact with him and he never showed any signs of apprehension. Having known him for close to 10 years, the Department is incomplete without him. I am really saddened by the loss of this kind, caring and gentle person who had an affable demeanour. He had the equanimity of dealing with complex issues and was [also] self-driven”.

Ms Mercy James, GRDM IDP Officer, was his right hand at work. She describes her time reporting to him by saying, “I was blessed to work with Mzu from 1 March 2018. Since the onset of my duties, he made it clear that the IDP unit was not about him, but that we needed to work as a team. Over time Mzu got to know not only my strengths, the areas of my skill set where I were not that strong.  He was determined to see me develop my strengths, rather than revealing my weaknesses. A true leader, who walked in front but close enough to his supporting team. I experienced him as humble, kind, calm and collected person, and he could easily handle my ‘differently tempered’ personality. I’m deeply saddened by his passing, but grateful that I had the privilege of working with a noble man like him.”

Mzu was involved in many government structures, well known to those working inside and outside the organisation, including premiers, mayors, municipal managers, IDP managers and the like. His sudden passing has left a void in the municipality. His colleagues and friends were not able to say goodbye before he left because everything happened so fast.

The municipality is in contact with Mzu’s family to provide the necessary assistance and support during this difficult period.  “This was too sudden, especially for those who were close to him…there are no words to explain the grief that all of us are observing even from afar,” Mr Stratu concluded.

May his soul rest in peace.

ENDS

Media Release: Garden Route Health Platform Update 

17 July 2020
For Immediate Release

 As of 17 July 2020, the Garden Route District has 3339 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Cases 

Garden Route cases and recoveries per subdistrict.

Bitou 229 cases; 107 recoveries
Knysna 509 cases; 259 recoveries
George 1532 cases; 853 recoveries
Hessequa 60 cases; 34 recoveries
Kannaland 35 cases; 18 recoveries
Mossel Bay 722 cases; 324 recoveries
Oudsthoorn 252 cases; 89 recoveries

The Garden Route has recorded 73 Covid-19 deaths.

Hospitalisation

There are currently 88 patients admitted in public and private hospitals with 17 in High Care/ICU.

Community Testing and Screening

The approach to active Covid-19 case finding within the rural areas remain that of community testing and screening with a focus on people > 55 years, the vulnerable and those of high risk (people with co-morbidities). To date 137 385 people have been screened and 1007 referred for testing.

Isolation and quarantine

Isolation facilities are for patients with mild to moderate symptoms where they can recover from Covid-19 (usually 14 days) and quarantine facilities are for those awaiting test results. These facilities are safe and comfortable and you will receive free transport, meals, and a laundry service. People who cannot isolate or quarantine safely at home, can be referred to a isolation or quarantine facility.

PetroSA (West Camp) is currently the only activated isolation and quarantine facility in the Garden Route. More facilities will be announced, if and when the need arises or capacity is exceeded at PetroSA. We currently have 80 people at West Camp.

Primary healthcare                  

Our Primary Health Care platform is an important vehicle to support our health system, so that our patients are well cared for to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Although we advise patients to only visit their nearest clinic for essential services we remind parents and caregivers that services such as immunisations are still rendered. It is important to attend all your confirmed appointments. Services such as women’s health(family planning, antenatal and post-natal care), child health(immunisations) and TB, are still rendered. Stable chronic care patients must collect their chronic medicine at the chronic off-sites. Should you require guidance or advice around your current treatment or scheduled appointment, please contact your clinic/hospital.

Shielding the vulnerable

Persons over the age of 55 or have a chronic condition are at risk for severe COVID-19 illness and should take extra precautions to protect themselves by following these steps:

1. Avoid getting the virus by staying home, wear a mask (when you have to go out), wash hands regularly and disinfect surfaces
2. Look after your health by following a healthy lifestyle and take your medication regularly
3. Get help immediately if you do not feel well
4. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, go for immediate testing, do not delay

The Department has implemented an action plan for Diabetics with COVID symptoms which includes expanding testing for diabetics who represent a high risk group. Our current data suggests that these patients are presenting or are being admitted too late in a very sick conditions, which has dire outcomes.

Next 100 days

The Department has identified the next 100 days as crucial to refocusing the health system and health services while still managing the pandemic with continued interventions to increase immunisation coverage, TB treatment and ART uptake.

We urge all citizens to remain careful in observing the essential 5 Golden Rules of hygiene and safety. It remains important to take particular care of persons with underlying conditions and particularly Diabetes, who are at significantly increased risk of severe COVID-19. We urge these people to really take special care and to shield themselves from exposure where possible.

The protection of our most vulnerable loved ones remains in our collective hands.

-ENDS-

Nadia Ferreira
Principal Communications Officer
Garden Route and Central Karoo Districts
Western Cape Government Health
Town Clinic,Plettenberg Bay
Tel: 044 5333846
Email: Nadia.Ferreira@westerncape.gov.za 
Website: www.westerncape.gov.za

Picture credit: iStock.com/ra2studio

Media Release: “My sister and I tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a funeral”

For Immediate Release
16 July 2020

Amanda (38), an employee of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), recently shared her and her sister’s COVID-19 experience. “We have no comorbidities and experienced flu-like symptoms,” she said.

Still in self-isolation, Amanda says that she and her sister attended a funeral in Graaff-Reinet on 20 June. They both developed a dry cough a few days after returning to George. By 29 June they suspected that they contracted COVID-19 after their cousin, who also attended the funeral, alerted them on 25 June that she had tested positive for it.

“We went for tests on 2 July and got our ‘positive results’ back on 6 July.”

“I was shocked and immediately called my doctor to ask for advice on what to do.” The doctor informed them to stay at home and isolate themselves from others. “Thankfully I stay with my sister. Neither of us even considered going out after suspecting that we had COVID-19, because nowadays coughing in public is met with glares from strangers and friends,” said Amanda.

The sisters were frustrated at times as they were confined to their flat and not even allowed to go for a walk. Amanda said that she continued with work duties from home and was available to assist the municipality with work when requested.

When sharing some of the support she received, Amanda explained: “My HR Manager, Ms Nontobeko Klaas, also tested positive a while back and she was the first one to call and comfort me. She shared some home advice on what home remedies worked for her including ginger, garlic, lemon, honey, and inhaling peppermint or eucalyptus vapour my chest felt tight or heavy.”  Her colleagues, family and friends were in constant contact with her. “I also held daily video calls with my cousin.”

Amanda pleads “for those suspecting of having COVID-19 to go into quarantine and for those who tested positive to isolate, because it protects others from contracting the virus.” She added: “other people might not experience the same symptoms and I think that those with comorbidities are more prone to serious complications.” Amanda shared that they only experienced minor body aches and a persistent dry cough.

Her COVID-19 experience taught her to not only look at the negative side of any disease, but also to read up and listen to experiences of others who had survived. “People should not stigmatise those who tested positive for a disease because it helps no one. Those who tested positive need support more than anything else,” she added.

Amanda urges the public to be more proactive and to go into quarantine when they experience a cough, runny nose or body aches. “Live as healthy as you can and avoid gathering in large groups. Stick to the rules. COVID-19 is real and ignoring this fact might cost you your own or another person’s life.”