SPOTLIGHT: Covid-19: Palliative care is needed now more than ever

For Ningi Mfeka from Amanzimtoti outside Durban, looking after her one terminally ill child has, at times, brought her to her knees. However, the help of palliative care doctors has been her saving grace, she says.“The load has been made very light. They constantly call me and check on my son. They ensure that we always go for my son’s appointment and just continue to be there and support us,” the mother of two says.

“This is a struggle but we try. I’m really grateful for the support I get from my family and the doctors.”Display Adverts Dr Michelle Meiring, a paediatric palliative care consultant and CEO of Paedspal, agrees that palliative care is often misunderstood. “[Wearing] PPE has made it extremely difficult. Now we have to write names on gowns for identification. With masks on, hearing is difficult, especially for the elderly. When you speak, you have to speak very slowly. For me, I enjoy being able to spend time with people and listen to stories that people tell. Just listening to how people see life. Covid-19 is taking that away from most of us. I think this PPE business is very hard,” says Venter.

Dr Jayne Cunningham, from Helderberg Somerset West, says the medical side of palliative care for Covid-19 is not very complex. According to Cunningham, there are people who want to help provide palliative care services. “However, the problem is the logistics of it, because of Covid-19. Not everyone can get into a Covid ward, and also hospitals can’t have too many people around as there will be a huge risk of infection. Also, as much as they want to help, there’s no guarantee that they won’t contract the virus.

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