Student health and wellness systems in place

As the University of Cape Town (UCT) prepares for a phased return to campus of a small number of authorised students, Dr Memory Muturiki, director of the Student Wellness Service (SWS) in the Department of Student Affairs, spoke about the health and safety measures that have been put in place.

These measures have been detailed in the SWS’s COVID-19 Students Support Plan, which will be implemented and managed by the SWS COVID-19 Response Team.

In preparing for the students’ return, Muturiki said they had been guided by the university’s COVID-19 Return to UCT policy framework, a broader plan for the phased return to campus in the wake of the countrywide lockdown.

In a recent communiqué UCT chief operating officer, Dr Reno Morar, said “The framework is intended help us take individual and collective responsibility for managing the impact of COVID-19 on our working and home lives.” It also provides guidelines for UCT’s responses in the event of when staff or students contract the virus on campus.

Morar noted that it’s not business as usual on campus.

“The framework provides a way for UCT to work in the COVID-19 Cape Metropolitan ‘hotspot’ area. Staff and students are encouraged to work or study from home and only return to campus when invited to do so.”

Phased return to campus

Stringent health and wellness measures and facilities have been set up to minimise risks, said Muturiki.  

In May, final-year medical students returned to campus and in June and July international students and those with disabilities returned and will be returning. August and September will see the return of those students who have been identified as vulnerable. For this phase, COVID-19 screening stations were set up in the residences and at the main clinic while students continued to receive mental health support through digital and telephonic counselling.

Once the bulk of students (66%) has returned to campus, more SWS satellite clinics and counselling sites will be operating and will follow strict appointment and distancing protocols and virtual support where possible. These sites are at:

• Ivan Toms main clinic (lower and middle campus) from 09:00 to 16:30
• Health Sciences faculty (HSF SWS service point, Falmouth Building) from 08:30 to 16:30
• Hiddingh Campus from 09:00 to 16:30
• Sports Centre and Steve Biko clinics (upper campus) from 08:30 to 16:30.

Bookings for an SWS medical officer, psychiatrist, or clinical nurse practitioner can be made online at a time that suits the student or by contacting the SWS. Face-to-face consultations will only be arranged by the clinician after a virtual consultation indicates that this is required. These appointments will take place at the SWS main clinic in Mowbray by an appointment scheduled by the practitioner. The main clinic operates with limited onsite numbers and strict physical distancing protocols; therefore no walk-ins will be allowed.

Mental health support for students by the SWS practitioners has been bolstered through the SWS Peer Counselling programme. This involves a team of four peer counsellors who are postgraduates. The programme provides intervention in the form of individual counselling. Their focus areas are: counselling, health and wellness, academic support and social/emotional adjustment.  

Before and after arriving on campus

All arrangements have been documented in the SWS’s COVID-19 Students Support Plan. However, these are the important points to note.

Prior to their arrival on campus, students will receive:

• a medical vulnerability checklist
• information on self-quarantine and isolation protocols
• a copy of the students support plan
• a guide to living in residence during the pandemic
• information on mental health support and peer interventions
• the HigherHealth app for daily health monitoring.

On arrival at UCT, students will receive information on:

• quarantine nurse screening procedures
• health education and quarantine rules
• an electronic symptom monitoring tool
• discharge and post-quarantine procedures.

Muturiki said students are also strongly encouraged to take responsibility for their health. She said that students who had opted to return and have comorbidities are encouraged to consult their SWS healthcare worker or private doctor to ensure that it is safe for them to return to campus.

“Do not wait to arrive before obtaining health advice.”

“Do not wait to arrive before obtaining health advice. All of us health practitioners at SWS urge all UCT students to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by practising physical distancing and wearing … [personal protective equipment] PPE and [to] talk to us. SWS COVID-19 Student Line: 021 650 1271.”

Back in residence

All returning students will be screened by an SWS COVID-19 screening nurse before being allocated a room in the residence. They will also have to undertake an obligatory 14-day self-quarantine in their residence rooms, starting the day after their arrival, and are expected to abide by the quarantine rules of the residences. Students with COVID-19 symptoms will be provided medical care and treated in the designated isolation facility at All Africa House by the SWS COVID-19 Response Team.

People with the following symptoms may have COVID-19: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of smell or taste, sore throat, fatigue, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhoea.

What to do if you are confirmed to have COVID-19 or have COVID-19-like symptoms? Contact the SWS triage line on 021 650 5620 during the day or the SWS COVID-19 Student Line or email sws@uct.ac.za.