With the rising infection numbers and the looming fears of being part of these numbers, health workers continue working and going beyond their normal duty requirements, serving the people of South Africa in the different corners of the country.
Nomathamsanqa (Thamie) Fanisi, is a mother, daughter and a professional occupational nurse at the Rhodes University Health Care Centre.
In times when she has found herself experiencing strain and stress due to the workload that comes with the pandemic, she finds calm in “knowing I am going to work to change someone's life” especially when “willingly assisting people after office hours”.
Sister Fanisi says their work has changed so much, at one point they had to train security guards on how to fill in the daily screening forms, differentiating between low, normal and high temperatures, which is one of the measures placed by the university to stop the virus from spreading.
This pandemic has changed everything about work and their approach to work. They always have to be vigilant to protect themselves and others by wearing masks and aprons all the time. Trying to find normalcy during this time is very difficult but Sister Fanisi says her family’s support is everything to her during this time.
“At home, we share jokes, laugh a lot… Spending as much time as I can with my kids is also important and I phone my 89-year-old mother daily as she stays far from me”.
We can only imagine how hard it must be for these frontline workers to leave their families while they could have been also safe at home with their families.
So when you think of breaking the lockdown rules, think about the people who put their lives in danger. Sister Fanisi’s message to South Africans is to “stay at home, wash your hands with soap and water more, sanitise and keep the distance all the time. If possible avoid going to social gatherings.
Thank you for your selfless service and for going the extra mile Sister Fanisi, we value you!