UMKHANYAKUDE HEALTH DISTRICT OFFICE SIKHANYAKUDE NEWS STAY INFORMED JAN-MAR 2021 HEALTH MEC TAKES COVID – 19 AWARENESS BLITZ TO UMKHANYAKUDE

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UNICEF Health First health worker Covid-19 Rapid Test Promotion Truck to be vaccinated in Launch the district Page Page Page 3 6 5

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1 MEC’s loudhailing programme in Umkhanyakude

District Director M.P Themba MEC Nomagugu Simelane addressing people

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Mayor Cllr V.T. Ncamphalala Mayor Cllr T.S. Mkhombo

MEC’s loudhailing programme at

n 1st April 2021, The MEC has been consistent Municipality Mayor, Thobelani KwaZulu-Natal Health and unequivocal in her public Ncamphalala and his deputy, MEC Ms Nomagugu engagements:SAMPLE COVIDPHOTO – 19 is still Mbongeleni Gina. O Simelane took her killing people,SOURCED: and IALCH if we are to COVID – 19 loud-hailing blitz to stem its deadly tide, we should The delegation visited Ward 10, Umkhanyakude District, where all wear face masks when ven- at Zamimpilo; Ward 03, at Khula she made an impassioned plea turing out to the public and at Village; Ward 05, at Mtubatuba for responsible public behaviour home, when in the Town; and Ward 01, at during the busy Easter holidays. company of elderly people or KwaMsane area. those with co-morbidities, regular As part of concerted efforts to hand washing or The MEC also encouraged the curb the spread of COVID – 19, sanitization and maintaining public to welcome and participate MEC Simelane has been social distancing of at least 1.5 in the vaccination rollout continuously engaging with the are all non-negotiables. programme soon when the public in various districts of KZN, vaccines become available to the using loud-hailing and electronic The MEC, was accompanied by public. mass media platforms to Imbewu actress Brenda disseminate important messages Mhlongo, Umkhanyakude about COVID-19. District Mayor, Cllr Solomon Mkhombo; Mtubabatuba Local

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2 Unicef Health Promotion Truck Visited Umkhanyakude

Health education activities

Stakeholders during UNICEF health promotion truck

This activity was very important due to widespread misinformation about vaccines which are likely to create resistance when the Health services time comes for community members to be vaccinated. nicef partnered with KZN Furthermore, there were health department of Health education sessions, distribution and visited U of educational pamphlets and Umkhanyakude towns viz Mtubatuba and on provision of health services. 25th February 2021 to conduct Health promotion programs a health promotion programme. such as this aim to engage and This was done through a sound empower individuals and -fitted truck that drove around communities to choose healthy towns creating awareness on behaviours, and make changes Covid-19 and promoting usage SAMPLE PHOTO that reduceSOURCED: the risk IALCH of of vaccines. developing chronic diseases and other morbidities. Covid rapid testing

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3 Covid-19 vaccination preparedness

Health teams inspecting Pharmacy in preparation for vaccination mkhanyakude Health District conducted U Covid-19 vaccination readiness assessments in all its facilities during the 4th quarter of 2020/21 financial year. This was a very crucial activity to establish challenges earlier so that they may be Emergency trolley being audited at Mosvold Hospital Security services addressed.

Furthermore, as part of readiness plan, all district hospitals conducted Dry Run programmes where staff simulated a vaccination day starting from entrance, data SAMPLE PHOTO management, SOURCED: IALCH screening, waiting Vaccination simulation Data management areas, main vaccination areas up to post vaccination. Through these activities, the purpose was to 'dot the i's and cross the t's' as far as vaccination is concerned.

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History was made: the very first health worker to be vaccinated in Umkhanyakude: 13th April 2020 at Hospital

very much energetic nurse, SG Khathwane who is working at Othobothini Community Health Centre as Clinical Nurse Practitioner was the first health worker to be vaccinated in A Umkhanyakude District on 13th April 2020 at 13h31 at Hla- bisa Hospital. The moment was historic as long awaited vaccine had arrived in the district. She was bristling with energy and passion for her work, being vaccinated would seem to improve her strength to nurse patients amid the pandemic of Covid-19.

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5 Covid-19 Rapid Testing Launch n 20th January 2020 UMkhanyakude District Mayor Cllr Solomon Mkhombo launched O Covid-19 Rapid Testing Programme at Clinic.

This would assist greatly in fighting the epidemic as the results for patients would quickly come back in 15 minutes whereas the normal testing system took couple of days depending on the volumes of specimens in laboratories; this mechanism would assist in fast-tracking triaging and treatment of patients.

All hospitals in Umkhanyakude embarked on this programme covering all four (4) local municipalities, including Kosi Bay Boarder Post.

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6 Welcoming of New Year Babies Two New Year babies delivered at Manguzi Hospital were welcomed with gifts from MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal Ms Nomagugu Simelane

EC Simelane said: the bond “We would like to between congratulate all the mother and M families of the ba- baby very bies who have been born on strong. the first day of year 2021. These are, indeed special “We also urge babies. mothers to follow the “The health and wellbeing of immunisation babies is something that we schedule as take very seriously at the KZN stipulated in Department of Health. We the Road to therefore urge all new mothers Health chart across the province to ensure because SAMPLEthat PHOTO that they give their babies way, babiesSOURCED: IALCH breast milk exclusively, at least are able to build and strengthen for the first six months of their their bodies’ ability to fight most lives. childhood ailments, so that they “We know that is it not always can stay healthy and thrive. possible, but they really should try, because breastfeeding has major health benefits. It strengthens the babies’ im- mune system, and also makes

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS EDITORIAL TEAM

MR. THABANI S NTULI MS. M.P THEMBA AD: COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT DIRECTOR

WRITER, DESIGNER &PHOTOGRAPHER EDITOR

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