- Liberia’s COVID-19
With the spike of the COVID-19 disease the world over, the St. John of God facilities in Liberia did not relent to respond with measures to curtail the spread of the disease. To increase public education on the disease, they printed flyers, handouts and posters which was posted at strategic places.
*Educational materials
Since the pandemic affected the financial strength of most facilities, management took a difficult decision to cut staff salaries of all categories, and also lobby development partners for financial bail out. In underscoring the importance of staff safety and their wellbeing, the management offered Psychological support for them to manage their Stress as well as those of the Administration. Since financial resources was critical to the management and sustenance of the institution, management advised staff to avoid wastage of the PPEs usage at the facility.
*Some staff taking delivery of USAID’s donation
St. Joseph Hospital Reactivates Isolation Unit
Having a pivotal hospital in containing the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2015, the management of the St. Joseph Hospital quickly reactivated Isolation Units by rehabilitating in readiness to contain the COVID-19 cases. Besides seeking financial support from the Mother Province-Castillia, the facility also explored alternative cost saving measures, including temporal downsizing of 40 staff effective 1st May to 30th June. While the services of some non-critical staff were suspended the facility, the Hospital temporarily closed down services until the situation improved.
* Some participants at a training workshop
2. TACTICAL COVID-19 RESPONSE IN SIERRA LEONE. The dedicated health workers in the St. John of God facilities in Sierra Leone at the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak quickly gathered their expertise to curb the spread of the disease and manage the cases.
The health workers consistently engaged the community heads and intensified sensitisation on the COVID-19, its symptoms, they way it spreads, as well as highlighted the safety protocols. Prior to these engagements, some staff were trained to attend to the patients with extra care. Although some centres were closed down, the medics inline with the ideal of the Hospitaller Order reached out to the vulnerable and pregnant women who patronised services at the facility.
*A section of the Community heads being sensitised.
Tough decisions that aided Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 case management
Faced with the COVID-19 Pandemic biting effects, managers of the St. John of God facilities in Sierra Leone took a difficult decision of laying off of 80 workers out of the 181 staff from the three Institutions at the end of April 2020.
The austere measures which were bitter but necessary included temporary closure of services, such as inpatient cash point, and maintain only 5 Cashiers. The services of some 30 workers ceased as the managers asked them to stay home in order to maintain a maximum workforce from on May 1st.
The suspension of all allowances and annual leave for the period for those staff remaining at post and follow the trend, were all adopted to help salvage the facilities from collapsing during the Pandemic.
As part of the short term measures, the volunteers’ application to work in three facilities were deferred indefinitely, as well as the suspension of all short-term (6 monthly contract), including those who are yet to renew their contracts.
In the meantime, while the managers feverishly pursued the project proposal, with strong appeal for the release of funds from Aragon Province to support the running of the health facilities.
*Some of the relief items to help manage the cases.
3. Zambia Hospital Striving to Care
Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic managers and staff were all commitment to scale up efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. They did not only acquire testing devices such as thermometers, PPEs and disinfectants but bought food items for the vulnerable in the society. With the incidence of low OPD attendance, and school is temporary closed, the management and staff visits the children in their homes.
* Sensitisation engagement * Continues support to our clients.
