The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
A survivor of Covid-19 in Bulawayo has started an initiative to assist people who are in quarantine centres in the city after her personal experiences isolated at home.
The survivor who is recorded as case number #21 by the Ministry of Health and Child Care said she was touched by the plight of those who in quarantine during this winter period.
“The 12th of June 2020 was a very cold morning and all that ran in my mind was the predicament of people that were in isolation centres. My mother (case #16) at one point was in isolation and told me that the place was particularly cold due to the harsh winter exacerbated by the lack of hot water. Without any other relation that brought us together I decided to do the little I could in order to assist those that were still in quarantine. What brought us together was the coronavirus which I suffered and have recovered from,” she said.
Before she was given an all clear by the Rapid Response Team, she and her family who had all tested positive for Covid-19 had a vigorous steaming regime where hot water was an essential part of the day.
“As a survivor of Covid-19 myself, hot water was an essential part of our healing as we steamed ourselves, drank hot water and took hot baths to assist in our healing. I understood how vital it was to have hot water, but unfortunately, in the quarantine centre, where my mother was, there was no hot water and that posed a risk to the people,” she said.
Case #21 said she then used social media to fund-raise to buy hot water buckets for use by people in quarantine centres.
“I needed assistance for my wish to provide hot water and I was aided by a few individuals whom I roped in. I set up a WhatsApp group and added a few people. I had 41 participants who joined the group and we shared ideas. I told them of my intention to have a small fund that would cater for a few hot water buckets for people in quarantine so that they can have warm water for bathing and also to steam themselves.
We actually had the first donation in no time. I hope to increase my participation with the group by donating to other centres.
“We are grateful for the Government support to the centres and people in quarantine. I have walked the path and I know how it feels to be in isolation, so my heart went out to the people at the centres so we purchased toiletries, sanitary wear, hot water buckets, sugar, bibles, books and magazines to keep them occupied during this period,” she said.
Case #21 said donations from people she had contacted assisted her to cater for those in quarantine.
“I believe that if people are supported while in quarantine they recover well because most of their needs will be catered for. When we were self-isolating at home, we got a lot of support from people around the community and beyond so our stay at home was painful but we had most of our basic needs catered for. I believe there are other people at home who really want to assist and they can come through and we work together in providing the little we can for people in quarantine,” she said.
