267 final-year nursing students from The University of The Western Cape (UWC) have received additional training from the provincial health department on how to vaccinate people.
This forms part of the Western Cape government's efforts to boost the second phase of its vaccination drive. In an official statement published on Tuesday, Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, welcomed the collaboration between the University and the Western Cape Department of Health saying that it will play an important role in scaling up the pace of inoculations slated for the coming weeks:
Today, I met 267 final year nursing students who are set to play a major role in our vaccination campaign. These students will soon be taking up positions on the frontline having received the required training from the Western Cape Department of Health to become vaccinators during our mass campaign.
He continued to say, "This will provide a welcomed boost to our programme, as we scale up in the weeks ahead. As more vaccines arrive, more vaccination sites will open, and the more support will be needed."
Portfolio Manager of the fourth-year nursing students, Jeffrey Hoffman, regarding the collaboration, said that the participating nursing students have been split into two groups, the first of which will begin work on the 17th this month.
The training is done online through the university’s zero-rated iKamva learning site. The content has been developed by the People Development Centre Western Cape Department of Health and is aligned with the national Department of Health’s vaccine training and includes:
- a basic overview of COVID-19;
- an outline of the various available vaccines; and
- training on monitoring patients for side adverse side effects.
The 267 participating nursing students have been split into two groups, and the first cohort of 134 vaccinators are expected to be in the field from 17 June.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the university and the UWC School of Nursing to be involved. We strive to provide relevant training that will allow our students to contribute meaningfully, especially in preparation for their completion as professional registered nurses,” he added
The work will take place during the students' mid-year break as part of their clinical placement.
