The devastating reality of COVID-19 has hit close to home for Mackay Hospital and Health Service Registered Nurse Sonia Davids.
Not only did she experience three months of lockdown in South Africa in 2020 at the start of the pandemic she has since lost four family members and friends to the disease.
As the newly appointed Nurse Unit Manager in charge of rolling out COVID-19 vaccination Sonia is on a mission to ensure healthcare workers and other Priority 1a group members in Mackay HHS have the opportunity to vaccinate.
A three-week holiday to visit family and friends near Port Shepstone in South Africa turned into months of lockdown followed by two weeks of quarantine in Perth.
“I was stranded for three months before I got back on the first repatriation flight for Australian citizens,” she said.
During the lockdown the streets were patrolled by the army trying to quash unrest and riots prompted by food shortages and other restrictions.
“We felt like we were in jail in our own home. If you went out to the shop you could only buy certain essential things,” she said.
The closure of the international airport where many poorer people had found low-paying jobs in cleaning and service industries meant they returned to rural areas.
“Unfortunately, they took COVID-19 with them to areas with next to no access to health care or even a good diet.
“It’s been a really sad experience for South Africa which is made worse by the new strain they have.”
Sonia said the loss of family and friends to the pandemic strengthened her resolve to do what she can to keep colleagues and community safe.
“When the position was advertised I was toing and froing about whether to apply but I had a gut feeling I should,” she said.
“I knew I had a background in infection control and a little bit of NUM experience. I knew it would be a massive challenge, but I’m doing this job from the bottom of my heart because I have personally felt the repercussions of this pandemic.
“I just feel I am where I need to be and that my service is needed.”
