Heroes in Rural Health: Volunteer nurse Charis Davey at Paarl Hospital

Sr Charis Davey, who volunteered at Paarl Hospital, is one of our Rural Coronavirus Heroes.

For Charis, the plea to skilled health workers to volunteer their services during the COVID-19 pandemic was a personal call to action that she simply had to answer. Charis saw a post on Facebook asking for skilled volunteers to register their details if they were able to help out at health facilities. “I was at home when the COVID-19 virus turned into a global pandemic and decided to volunteer my service because I was healthy and able to work. I sent in my application and received a phone call asking if I could help out at Paarl Hospital,” she explains.

Charis volunteered for three weeks at Paarl Hospital’s COVID-19 wards and says her biggest challenge whilst volunteering was adapting to a new work environment with a pandemic at hand. “At the time that I started working, the only experience and knowledge I had on Coronavirus was what I saw and heard on the news – and news can paint quite a scary picture.” Adding to that, she was working in a new ward, in a hospital new to her and with co-workers she didn’t know. However, she got familiar with the new environment and says her colleagues went out of their way to make her feel welcome. Soon found herself comfortable in her new capacity and well informed about the virus and treatment of patients.

For Charis, the best moment of her three weeks of volunteering was when they were able to discharge a patient who had been in the hospital for almost two weeks. “Just to see how that patient improved day-by-day and knowing I played a key role in their recovery was such a feeling of accomplishment.” But, she adds, it’s really the small gestures, like fluffing a pillow and having a quick chat that means the world to patients in the hospital, especially those who cannot see their loved ones due to the pandemic.

She believes one of the most important lessons she learned during her three weeks of volunteering was to always be on alert when treating patients and to wear the appropriate personal protective clothing. “I remember helping a patient and the next morning she tested positive for the virus. I recalled my interactions with her and tried to remember if I used my PPE correctly while I was treating her.” From then on, she made sure to be extra cautious and at all times following the relevant safety and prevention measures.

Charis says she would recommend volunteering to anyone since it helps you grow in your social awareness and you learn to appreciate your life and the value of life. “While volunteering, you realise that your problems are nothing compared to others.”

Any person skilled in a health care profession who wishes to offer their services and expertise as a volunteer, can register their details at the following link: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/volunteer-recruitment-questionnaire