Final-year nursing students to join pool of vaccinators

As part of the government’s plan to expand their pool of qualified vaccinators, final-year nursing students in Limpopo will soon be able to assist, in order to fast-track the vaccination programme.

Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba congratulated some final-year nursing students at the University of Venda (Univen) for taking the lead in volunteering their services and to be trained as vaccinators. “We are in the middle of the third wave of Covid-19 and need the extra hands to vaccinate our communities. We appreciate and salute you for your willingness to help us with our vaccination programme,” said Ramathuba.

The MEC addressed students and guests at the Univen stadium in Thohoyandou on Monday, 12 July, and welcomed the deployment of the 84 final-year nursing students to be trained as Covid-19 vaccinators.

The University of Limpopo, as well as the Limpopo Nursing College, will deploy more nursing students as soon as they are done with the current examination block.

“We have identified this student cohort to assist in the vaccination programme, as they are almost done with their studies to be professional nurses. As we move to the category of 35 to 49 years, we will need more manpower to be equal to the task when it comes to vaccination. We will be opening sites; all our clinics will become vaccination sites, so these students will come in handy to ease the burden of our health-care professionals, who are currently busy responding to those who are sick and warrant admissions,” Ramathuba said.

She continues to encourage all eligible age groups to enrol for vaccines using the electronic vaccination delivery system (EVDS), WhatsApp or SMS, so they can be vaccinated.

Mr Rambani Rasalanavho, an officer and trainer at the Vhembe Regional Training Centre of the Department of Health, said that the nursing students will undergo a seven-module training course for one day and then be deployed to various communities around Vhembe to help with vaccinations.

Date:16 July 2021

By: Silas Nduvheni

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