In a bid to help Chatsworth’s hospitals and clinic’s cope with the second wave of COVID-19 infections, Dr Diveshni Govender has opened a free clinic, operating from the Havenside Community Hall in Chatsworth. The clinic mainly treats patients who are above 45 years of age, with about 10% of patients under the age of 12.
She said that the clinic has also partnered with a private ambulance company to transport patients who need elevated care to a hospital, at no cost. “The partnership has saved several lives as patients who are in urgent need of transport to a hospital no longer have to wait a long time for an ambulance,” said Dr Govender.
Ever since the opening of the clinic, hundreds of patients have been treated at the clinic since it opened its doors in January.“The number of COVID-19 patients we were seeing increased to the point where I had to treat some patients in their cars, in the shopping complex where my practice is located,” she said. Dr Govender contacted community activists to assist with getting her access to use the Havenside Community Hall as a makeshift clinic. The 30- bed clinic is run on donations from several non-governmental organisations, businesses and members of the community.
The new clinic has helped patients like Jeeveshni Abraham and her family. Abraham, her husband and two children were admitted to the clinic after her symptoms started to worsen.“At the clinic, we received quality care and medication. We also had access to oxygen to help with breathing a little easier when we were in distress. The clinic also admitted my brother, his wife and children when they contracted the virus,” commented Abraham.
When Abrahams and her family were discharged from the clinic they received medicine packages to take home.Dr Govender said that the free medicine they dispense from the clinic is made possible through donations from members of the community.Govender is assisted by two nurses and has also employed a cleaner to assist at the clinic.
