Launch of the Healthcare Workers Care Network Caring for the Carers by the Carers
Healthcare workers are exhausted, stressed, and at high risk for physical and mental illness as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll in South Africa. Top South African medical, clinical, and professional associations are collaborating to bring much much-needed support and care to healthcare workers across the country.
The Healthcare Workers Care Network (HWCN) is a nationwide healthcare worker support network spearheaded by partners SA Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), SA Medical Association (SAMA), Psychological Society of SA (PsySSA), SA Society of Anaesthesiologists (SASA), and the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). It offers all healthcare workers across the public and private sectors free support, pro bono therapy, resources, training and psychoeducation. The HWCN already has over 500 volunteer mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, GPs, registered counsellors, and social workers, who will provide help, intervention, and support to all healthcare workers. These include doctors, nurses, community healthcare workers, field workers, hospital or clinic personnel, including hospital laundry staff, and porters.
The HWCN has launched a 24-hour toll-free Helpline (0800 21 21 21), SMS 43003 and website (www.healthcareworkerscarenetwork.org.za) so that all healthcare workers can access immediate counselling and support. “By providing as many touchpoints as possible for our frontline healthcare workers across South Africa, to ensure they have mental health support and intervention is crucial in ensuring that their mental health is looked after during this stressful time.”
Exposure to the virus, long working hours, psychological distress, looking after own family and challenges with home-schooling, fatigue, burnout are real hazards. Every new COVID-19 diagnosis means longer hours, less sleep, and increasingly irregular meals for our frontline workers, resulting in weakened immune systems and lower resilience. “South Africa’s healthcare workers are under enormous pressure,” says Dr Antoinette Miric, a Johannesburg-based psychiatrist and SASOP spokesperson. “They are committed to fighting this disease and saving as many lives as possible, all while managing their personal risks and anxieties around the virus and its impact on their own lives and their loved ones. Healthcare workers are not used to reaching out for support for themselves. Still, I hope that this pandemic helps them to realise that they need to look after themselves first physically and emotionally, before they are able to look after others. Looking after oneself is not natural for the healthcare worker, who in their nature help selflessly. However, in these circumstances, self-care is not just a buzzword – it is essential. Healthcare workers need to put on their oxygen masks before helping others.”
The Healthcare Workers Care Network (HWCN) is operated by qualified professionals who have the skills to help healthcare workers manage their own fears and stresses around COVID-19, by providing the support and counselling to protect their mental health and mitigate the effects of increased rates of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.
While waiting for the inevitable surge of Covid-19 patients to hit, healthcare workers have faced challenges to acquire personal protection equipment, roster changes, leave cancellations, financial stress, amongst others. Everyday work activities in the healthcare sector have been disrupted as facilities across South Africa suspend all but the most urgent of emergency medical care.
Dr. Caroline Lee, Convenor of the SA Society of Anaesthesiologists Wellness in Anaesthesia Support Group, who has been supporting doctors suffering Burnout for over 6 years, explains that the initiative gives healthcare workers immediate access to help whenever they need it. “It’s critically important right now to be as supportive as possible of doctors, nurses, healthcare support staff, and allied medical personnel,” she says. “These are dedicated people who have committed to seeing all of us through the COVID-19 crisis. They form the backbone and the frontline of our healthcare response. They are taking on significant personal risk and too often working without adequate equipment to ensure all of us can receive the care we need. They are our guides, allies, and caregivers. They are tireless, innovative, inspirational, stressed, exhausted, and too-often undervalued.”
The Healthcare Workers Care Network (HWCN) initiative is a strictly confidential, free service run and delivered by volunteer psychiatrists and psychologists and aims to support existing employee wellness programs. It has a main preventative arm with resources for psychoeducation and training of leaders in healthcare as well as personalised support sessions for individual healthcare workers. This current healthcare crisis is not going to resolve itself any time soon. We must support these healthcare workers who are working tirelessly to save lives and treat those that are ill.
Healthcare Workers Care Network Support Services Contact Details:
- 24 hour Healthcare Workers Care Network Helpline – 0800 21 21 21 (available 7 days a week)
- SMS 43001
- Website www.healthcareworkerscarenetwork.org.za – fill in the online form on the homepage to request individual therapy and support
- Online requests for support and counselling are accessible through the website, the SAMA page, the EMGuidance App as well as the Vulamobile App
HWCN Press Briefing Programme of Speakers – 3 June 2020
PRESS BRIEFING
LAUNCH OF THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS CARE NETWORK
WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2020
10AM – 11:30AM
TIME |
TOPIC |
EXPERT |
10:00 |
Opening Introduction |
Cassey Chambers SADAG |
10:05 |
Mental Health of Health Workers during COVID19 |
Dr Antoinette Miric Psychiatrist SASOP & COVID Care Gauteng |
10:20 |
EMGuidance Survey results from SA Healthcare Workers |
Dr Mohammed Dalwai EMGuidance |
10:30 |
Healthcare Workers Care Network - Collaboration - Support Services Available - 2 Prong Approach: Healthcare Workers & Leaders |
Dr Vusi Nhlapo SAMA General Manager Natalie Zimmerman SASA CEO Cassey Chambers SADAG Zamo Mbele Psychologist & SADAG Board Member |
10:50 |
Case Study – Real Doctors sharing real struggles during COVID19 |
Dr Caroline Lee SASA & Wellness Coordinator Dr Dhinesh Singh Anaesthetist |
11:00 |
Launch of the Healthcare Workers Care Network Fund
- “Caring for the Carers” Pledge |
Cassey Chambers SADAG Dr Kgosi Letlape Ophthalmologist in Private Practice |
11:10 |
Digital Partners - EMGuidance - Vula Mobile |
Dr Nienke Van Schaik Dr William Mapham |
11:20 |
Healthy Company for Doctors |
Dr Maurice Goodman Discovery Health Chief Medical Officer |
11:25 |
Panel Q&A |
HWCN Press Briefing - Speakers Profile and Bios
HWCN PRESS BRIEFING – SPEAKERS PROFILES
Dr Antoinette Miric, Psychiatrist & COVID Care Gauteng
Dr Mohammed Dalwai – EMGuidance Chief Product Officer
Dr Vusumuzi Nhlapho – South African Medical Association (SAMA) General Manager
Natalie Zimmelman, CEO of SASA
Zamo Mbele, Clinical Psychologist & SADAG Board Member
Dr Caroline Lee – Anaesthetist & SASA Wellness Coordinator
Dr Kgosi Letlape, Ophthalmologist in Private Practice
Dr William Mapham, Founder & CEO of Vula Mobile
Dr Maurice Goodman, Chief Medical Officer of Discovery Health
Cassey Chambers, SADAG Operations Director
The Mental Health Concerns of Health Care Workers - Dr Antoinette Miric
PDF Presentation - Click Here
Vula Mobile – instructions on how to download the app
Download Vula Mobile App - Click Here
Download PDF Instructions - Click Here
EMGuidance – Mental Health Support online
HCWN EMGuidance Presentation - Click Here
EMGuidance COVID Platform - Click Here
Discovery Health – Healthy Company for Doctors
Dear Doctor
Welcome to Discovery Healthy Company for Doctors
Discovery appreciates your selfless commitment during this global pandemic and the contribution you make to the people of this country. We aim to assist you through this challenging period by providing you with relevant support, educational material and tools.
Supporting your comprehensive wellness through Discovery Healthy Company for Doctors
Doctors are on the front line, caring for patients with confirmed or possible cases of COVID-19, and thus have an increased risk of exposure to the virus. Many doctors are also facing long working hours, extreme work pressure, fatigue, occupational burnout and psychological distress.
To proactively support the personal and financial wellness of South African doctors during the COVID-19 outbreak, we are giving all doctors access to Discovery Healthy Company for Doctors - at no cost. This is for all doctors in both the private and public sectors.
What is Discovery Healthy Company?
Discovery Healthy Company is a digitally enabled, comprehensive, fully integrated personal assistance programme. This programme focuses on the following four dimensions of wellbeing:
- Physical wellbeing
- Emotional wellbeing
- Financial wellbeing
- Legal support
We provide services on both a personal and small-business level, for those who may need it.
Benefits available to doctors
- Proactive, relevant interventions from prevention and education to ongoing or episode management to assist in managing areas identified as at-risk across any of the four dimensions of wellbeing - physical, emotional and mental wellbeing and legal support (personal and small business). You get access to:
- Legal and financial experts
- Trauma counsellors
- Registered psychologists and social workers. - Support and advice from a Healthy Company counselling coach in a private and confidential setting. They provide this service telephonically or through the live-chat functionality on the Discovery app or Discovery website.
- Access to legal and financial experts, trauma counsellors, registered psychologists and social workers to assist with episodic or ongoing management for areas identified as at-risk including emotional distress, anxiety or trauma.
- Online lifestyle management services, including a library of comprehensive educational material, assessments and tools to capture your mood and detect signs of emotional distress.
Confidentiality: Discovery Healthy Company treats all information totally confidentially. There is no data sharing between us and any other subsidiaries within the Discovery Group.
How to access this service
All doctors on Vitality Active Rewards for Doctors have immediate access to Discovery Healthy Company for Doctors and can simply activate the benefit on the Discovery app. If you do not have Vitality Active Rewards for Doctors, you can follow the registration process below.
How to register on the Discovery website and download the Discovery app
- Step 1
To use the app, you must be registered on the Discovery website first. If you are not yet registered on the Discovery website, you can register here. - Step 2
Download the Discovery app from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to use the same username and password for the app as for the Discovery website. - Step 3
Sign in to the app or website and access Discovery Healthy Company from your portfolio page. Complete the consent section to navigate your benefits.
For more information on your benefits on Discovery Healthy Company for Doctors, click here.
We look forward to supporting your wellbeing.
Regards, Dr Maurice Goodman
Chief Medical Officer,
Discovery Health
For any press interviews or expert comments, please contact:
Tracy Makute - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Petri Greef - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Cassey Chambers - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.