The total number of confirmed COVID -19 cases in South Africa is steadily increasing, that is why it was important for the Higher Health and its partners to develop a strategy within post-school education and training about COVID -19.
On behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), HIGHER HEALTH works with Universities South Africa (USAf) and the South African College and Principals Organisation (SACPO). HWSETA has partnered with Higher Health to support initiatives to combat the effects of COVID-19.
Higher Health is not alone in this effort, It is collaborating with government departments, private sector, other national initiatives, which includes NICD and DOH, technical public health specialists, as well communication specialists and public information channels including mass media, social media, digital media to deliver an intensive and empowering COVID-19 Campaign for the PSET which entails communication and education.
The Higher Health together with the Department of Health and NICD is currently developing the sectoral guidelines on COVID-19 which is in Draft 4, these guidelines will enable institutions to create and implement their individual plans but in synergy with policies of government, the NICD , the departments of Higher Education and Training, Health and Labour. Simultaneously the Higher Health`s technical public health task team is also conducting a literature review from all the available sources to update the Post School Education and Training (PSET) guidelines to finalise the draft. It is anticipated that by early April the final draft will be presented to both Director Generals of Health and DHET, for finalisation and sign off before roll-out.
To date, two successful live webinars were conducted on 20 March 2020 and 01 April 2020 by Higher Health and NICD that have capacitated over 1200 attendees from diverse disciplines of academia, student support and student leadership. The live on-line webinars are designed through a 2-hour session, that emulates a classroom setting.
A curriculum on COVID-19 has been designed covering chapters such as Epidemiology, laboratory testing, clinical presentation and management of suspected cases and many more.
Following the success of the 2 online webinars Higher Health now plans to roll out further training of different disciplines and sub-sectors through a series of tailor-made webinars which will cover these stakeholders:
• TVET Sector
• Academia o Student Support Services, Campus Security, Union Representatives
• Campus Health Care, Occupational Health, Employee Wellness
• Higher Health Peer Mentors
• Higher Health Peer Educators & Student Leadership
Further to these curriculums Higher Health will develop specific guidelines, protocols and algorithms for the different sub-sectors which will be consulting and capacitating through these tailor-made live webinars
Going forward the Higher Health has decided to introduce COVID-19 within the second curriculum and roll out through the established on-campus extensive peer to peer programme. The essence of the Higher Health Second Curriculum is to present students in all years of study with opportunities for learning and personal growth outside the formally accredited First Curriculum.
Within the Second Curriculum, students will be encouraged to complete a self-assessment risk screening toolkit related to HIV, TB, STIs, Sexual and reproductive health, Mental health and Gender-based violence. COVID-19 self-assessment risk screening toolkit will also be developed and rolled out as part of the second curriculum peer to peer education programme.
During the past few weeks the government has pleaded with the public to stop the spread of fake news ,misinformation and face penalties, Higher Health as a key extension of government’s higher education and training programme, will utilise its position as an authentic and trusted news source and has identified broadcast media, especially social media as the primary/reliable tool to consume information on the spread and impact of Covid-19 .
The Higher Health will also work with campuses radio stations and community radio stations across the country to spread the word about COVID-19, radio journalists across these stations and Higher Health has already begun to capacitate these journalists on COVID-19 content via a series of webinars. These radio journalists will now use their COVID-19 training and the content to package radio programmes which they will play during peak and off-peak periods, on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Lastly Higher Health will procure PPEs (protection gears) for student support services and Health care workers across campuses for protection against COVID 19, students hygiene packs and masks will be procured and distributed to disadvantaged students. These PPE`s will be procured from institutions like TUT, NMU, North link and College of Cape town who have started production on these items. This will ensure support via financial investments to Higher Health`s own institutions towards mass production.
