NUST Volunteer Framework for COVID-19 :: COVID-19 :: NUST Library Special Collections

Expand document

Collapse document

NUST Volunteer Framework for COVID-19

1 Page 1

2 Page 2

NUST Volunteer Framework for COVID-19

1 Page 1

▲back to top

naAamMmMIBIA UNIVERSITY

OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences

Office of the Dean

13 Storch Street

Private Bag 13388

Windhoek

NAMIBIA

T: +264 61207 2012

F: +264 61207 9012

E: fhas@nust.na

W: www.nust.na

31 March 2020

NUST Volunteer Framework for COVID-19

On 14 March 2020 Namibia reported its first cases the COVID-19

disease. The Namibia University of Science and Technology

(NUST) has joined the nation at large in taking strong steps to

decrease spread of the deadly virus that is causing this disease.

Therefore, NUST went on recess immediately after the first cases

were reported. This recess has now been extended in line with the

national state of emergency as declared by His Excellency the

President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hage Geingob as well as

the subsequent lockdown of Khomas and Erongo regions. The

disease is likely to overwhelm the current national health system

and put a strain on all governmental services as well as the private

sector, even with deliberate planning and adjustments. Hence, help

is needed in all areas, and will be needed more in the weeks and

months to come.

Against this background, it is proposed that any staff and students who would like to volunteer to

combat the disease be given opportunities to organize themselves and to do so. The variety of our

skills and expertise will enable us to make an impact in the fight against this disease. In addition, the

Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) will provide training as well as personal protection

equipment to all volunteers. This will be a completely volunteer exercise with no lability to the

University.

There are various ways in which volunteers will assist, such as the following:

1. Educational campaigns in the townships on handwashing, and the setting up of handwashing

stations.

. surveying townships to locate the most vulnerable, and engaging community members to come

up with solutions on how to protect those individuals.

. Assist with laboratory needs at NIP and PathCare.

. Drivers for patient and staff transport.

. Data entry and compilation of spreadsheets for surveillance and contact tracing.

. Cleaning up at hospitals and testing sites.

. Clinical assistance at hospitals and clinics for medically trained staff/students.

2 Page 2

▲back to top

8. Bringing meals to patients and staff.

9. Setting up new makeshift healthcare facilities, as the need arises, and helping transport supplies

to these facilities.

10. Serving as nursing assistants to keeping an eye on patients and informing nurses when they

need help, changing linens, etc.

11. Sourcing sponsorships from businesses and individuals for items or money or services as

needed.

Now is not the time to react in fear, but to prepare for any possible coming wave of this virus, and to

look for ways to jump in and make a difference.

Ideally this could be organized programme-by-programme, with programme coordinators reaching

out to students and staff in their programme and seeing who would like to volunteer to help and

looking for how to help. This would be in each student or staff member’s own capacity, not under the

covering of the University. Dr Adam Flowers (aflowers@nust.na) is a medical doctor and he is

currently involved in various volunteering projects with MOHSS. Dr Flowers has agreed to assist

programme coordinators, once they have created a volunteer list, with finding opportunities to serve

at MOHSS. Since the needs are great and may not be matched perfectly with the training

programme, it is also encouraged that each programme thinks of ways they could serve the greatest

need, even if it is not in their specialty. For example, an engineering programme could be involved

with a meal preparation and delivery rotation for a local clinic.

The Emergency Medical Care programme is currently being organized and mobilized to serve in the

medical response. If other programmes and departments could also consider joining in the response it

would be appreciated. The first step is to ask for volunteers from your departments/programmes, and

then to contact Dr Flowers to work on a plan of action for mobilization.

Let us organise and prepare ourselves while we can.

Sincerely,

Adam Flowers,