Communities equipped with information on preventing the spread of COVID-19

Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) facilitated an online meeting which created a platform for community women to interact with a medical doctor to discuss issues relating to COVID-19 and its impact in communities.

The speaker Doctor Bekezela Ndlovu said that in this period when the world is fighting the spread of COVID-19, communities should also play their part in flattening the curve on coronavirus infections. . Currently there is no cure for COVID-19 said Ndlovu. He said that the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions and those with weaker immune systems are at risk of getting severe infections and complications.

Doctor Ndlovu said that the coronavirus largely affects the respiratory system and then spreads to other organs as it advances. He said up to 80% of people infected by the virus develop mild symptoms while 20% require admissions in medical facilities. Explaining on the symptoms of COVID-19, Doctor Ndlovu said in some cases symptoms may take up to two weeks to be visible which is called the incubation period.

“Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, sore throat, and kidney failure and they vary from case to case,” said Ndlovu.

Doctor Ndlovu also explained how the virus spreads. He said that it spreads when one comes into contact with contaminated surfaces and also through human contact especially coughing and sneezing. He went on to say members of the public should desist from handshakes and hugs which also puts them at risk of contracting coronavirus.

“However there are ways in which the spread of COVID-19 can be prevented. These include social distancing where people are encouraged to stand or sit at least one metre apart from the next person especially in public places. People should also practice hand hygiene by constantly washing their hands with soap and clean water for 20 seconds as well as using hand sanitizers. People are also encouraged to avoid touching their faces” said Doctor Ndlovu.

One of the participants said that there are other sources that say traditional remedies like steaming and taking herbal concoctions like lemon, garlic and ginger can expedite recovery or reduce the chances of one being infected. In response Doctor Ndlovu said that these traditional remedies help the immune system to fight the virus, as they relieve the symptoms but unfortunately, they do not cure the coronavirus.

“Testing is for free, no one pays. Testing has been decentralized to every province. If a person has symptoms they are expected to call the hotline numbers and the rapid response teams will swiftly attend to them by visiting their home and providing free tests at zero cost. The patients may be moved to a central area if they are in isolated regions of the country” said Doctor Ndlovu.

Participants said there are gaps for awareness creation especially in rural areas and they said that now that they have received this information, they will share it with other community members.

Doctor Ndlovu said that what one can do when they develop COVID-like symptoms is to call the national hotline numbers so that task teams can be assigned to attend to them. The national hotline numbers are 0714734593 and 0774112531.