Limpopo province takes grassroots approach to COVID-19 vaccination

Westfalia Fruit Estate is located on the outskirts of Tzaneen, in the north-western region of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The farm’s quiet exterior belies its significance in South Africa’s agricultural industry. It is the biggest avocado producer in the country and exports this sought-after fruit to places its farm workers have only seen on cinema screens.

Inside, the farm is abuzz with activity. Today the district’s department of health has set up mobile health services on a lawn just outside the main production area. A wide range of primary health services, including COVID-19 vaccination, is being offered to the workers. They are queuing for vaccination, HIV tests, pap smears, minor ailments and can even consult with a dietician.

The makeshift tents are arranged in a flow akin to a brick-and-mortar clinic, making health services easily accessible to the farm’s thousands of seasonal workers.

Wilson Molekoa is a food production manager at the farm. Originally an engineer from South Africa’s political capital city, Pretoria, he has come to appreciate the rhythm of farm life. “Its humbling being out here in nature. Being a city boy, farm life has shown me the importance of preserving our natural world,” he says.

“When I heard that there is a programme coming to the worksite to give us our COVID-19 boosters, I signed up immediately. I got my first two vaccines in 2021 and this is my third one. My health is my priority,” he says.

These mobile health services are part of the district’s broader strategy to bring COVID-19 vaccination services to the people.

“Based on the population and unemployment rate in Mopani District, most people are working on farms and uninsured,” says Dr Rirhandzu Mongwe, District Executive Manager, responsible for health delivery in Mopani District. “If workers are uninsured, they can’t afford to take time off work or to get transport to clinics. That’s when we said need to go to them and vaccinate them,” she says.

Malatia Reggae, a seasonal farm worker from a neighbouring region and father of five, arrives to get his third vaccine. “I came for the booster. Since I got my two injections, I was worrying why I hadn’t got the booster. So now I am happy I got it,” he says.

In the meanwhile, Molekoa has finished his 15-minute observation after vaccination and is pleased that he can go straight back to work. “The great thing about these programmes coming to this side is that you don’t even have to leave your workplace,” he says.

“I can get my vaccination, my blood pressure taken, the HIV test, and I don’t have to take a day off. It’s quite convenient to have a one-stop place to take care of all your vitals,” he says.

Now that the vaccination response has matured, it is important that COVID-19 vaccination services are integrated into primary health services, offering people boosters to further protect their health, says Dr Mongwe.

Partnerships are key to achieve these results, she adds. Her colleagues agree.

“One of the things that we appreciate as a province is the support we’ve received from the WHO,” says Dr Musa Sebati, the lead for COVID-19 vaccine safety in the Limpopo Province Department of Health. "For us we are looking forward in the future to partner with WHO in improving the quality of care we are rendering to the people in Limpopo,” she says.