
Gibson Mhaka
“THERE will always be a glimmer in those who have been through the dark.”
This statement aptly applies to some good news and promises of hope in these otherwise dark times of coronavirus pandemic as more people who fell seriously ill begin to recover from the disease which is often lethal to those with underlying health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart ailments and advanced age.
As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus continue to surge across the country, with the Ministry of Health and Child Care reporting 5 643 cases of the infection and 4 442 of recoveries as of Thursday morning, the good news is that more than half of Zimbabwe’s confirmed Covid-19 patients have now fully recovered with more shrugging off the last of their infection almost everyday.
But medical experts are warning that this is no reason to be complacent.
There is, however, a need for those patients recovering from the coronavirus to seek ways to help others that are in hospitals, isolated from loved ones and struggling to beat the virus.
In an interview with B-Metro, Ellen Shava from Northend, and whose sister contracted Covid-19 from one of her patients, fully recovered, and returned to work with much more resolve and compassion urges eligible individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 to ‘give back’ by sharing their experiences fighting Covid-19.
Although health experts attributed the recoveries to early testing and isolation among other measures Zimbabwe is undertaking, Shava believed people who have fully recovered from the coronavirus should share their experiences to help spread and revive hope in the fight against the deadly pandemic.
“That will make a difference and bring positivity and hope, which is what the country and world at large needs right now. As for my sister when she fully recovered it was the most joy she ever felt. It really was. She felt like everything was whole finally again. She felt like she was bursting out of jail,” she said.
Shava said thepeople who have fully recovered from the coronavirus should give advice on ways to prevent getting the virus and how they feel about life after recovery.
She adds: “Such stories will inspire and educate people and other patients on how to cope with the virus. As for my sister, who was seemingly on death’s door, it’s a testimony that after contracting the disease there is always hope for survival. It didn’t kill her, but she came out stronger. In short, her experience is a story of perseverance, faith and love”.
A counselor, Duduzile Sukoluhle Mhlanga, supported Shava saying it was very important for former Covid-19 patients to share their unusual experiences to guarantee even those who suffered mild strains of the virus that they could be spared from a disease that has claimed so many.
She said due to lack of support and information on how to cope after testing positive for Covid-19, some patients sought help from the internet to help them navigate life as Covid-19 patients.
“Due to lack of support and information on how they can cope, after they tested positive for Covid-19, some patients start to look for support from the internet or on social media networking sites such as Facebook where they join groups with stories of Covid-19 sufferers to see if what they are experiencing is typical. Although it is not the only place to look for support, after they joined those groups, they realise that they’re not alone. That discovery provides them with support and peace of mind which is definitely an amazing thing to be recognised by any patient,” she said.
If you have recovered from Covid-19, and want to share your experiences about your recovery please email [email protected] or call at 0716910219(plus whatsapp) or 0774 354 013.