Tygerberg Hospital hero amongst us – Sabelo Handula

This week’s nominated coronavirus hero amongst us at Tygerberg Hospital, Sabelo Handula provides an essential service to the public during these challenging times. The hero amongst us campaign seeks to highlight an official’s achievements, abilities or personal qualities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the eyes of hospital staff, he or she can also be regarded as a role model or ideal.

As a Linen Stores Assistant in the Linen Management Department for seven years his duties include the following: operate linen machines; the sluice, wash and dry of dirty linen; sorting of all linen received from external laundry; distribute linen in bags to each ward and asses linen items according to ward lists; adherence to hygienic protocols and infection prevention guidelines; conduct stock counts; pack and bag linen and provide a thorough and complete laundry service to the hospital. “Covid-19 didn’t affect my work honestly because myself and my colleagues we did stick to the rules and regulations of Covid-19, for example, keeping our social distance; wearing our mask, we don’t touch our face and eyes and always sanitize our hands, said Sabelo, who lives in Khayelitsha.

What motivates him to come to work every day is, “patient care; being happy at work; understanding one another; working together as a team; sharing ideas, respecting each other.”

He is also appreciative of the support of hospital management during this time. “The hospital provided us with information sessions about Covid-19 and we also received extra PPE to protect us during this pandemic,” adds Handula.

He concluded, “I want to thank my fellow colleagues in the linen department for working together in this difficult time. Also, to the Linen Management, thank you for assisting us as linen assistants during this time. Remember to stay safe, stay at home and always wear a mask and wash your hands with water and soap. Soon we will overcome this pandemic.”