As our healthcare and front line workers face burnout and fatigue as they battle the third wave of Covid-19, the Weekend Argus, for Mandela Day, arranged cleaning vouchers from Marvellous Maids for staff at Victoria Hospital in Wynberg.
Marvellous Maids has been operating in the country for the last 25 years, providing domestic help on a full-time, part-time and ad hoc basis.
The cleaning agency has offered ten full days of cleaning for ten lucky hospital staff members.
On Thursday, July 15, the hospital hosted a draw to pick ten workers to receive a day of cleaning in their respective homes.
Hospital chief executive Jonathan Vaughan said the pandemic placed a strain on the mental and emotional wellbeing of front line workers.
“The succession of waves and the physical and mental toll it is taking has made staff exhausted and emotionally drained. A staff member recently said to me, ‘We are running on empty’,” he said.
Vaughan added that small things like cleaning assistance at home would make a big difference to their staff.
“The pandemic doesn’t take away the day-to-day responsibilities we all have. When someone is investing all their energy into fighting the Covid-19 virus, there is very little left to take care of themselves or their families.
“The offer from Marvellous Maids will go a long way to offer some relief and give staff a chance to relax and feel a bit more restored and ready to take up arms again against the pandemic.”
Marvellous Maids founder Kate Shuttleworth said the workers in the cleaning agency were grateful to be working in an industry where “the cleaning never stops”.
Shuttleworth added that she was grateful to be a part ofthis Mandela Day initiative in partnership with Victoria Hospital.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our healthcare workers. We want to leave them with a sparkling clean, fragrant home that they can return home to,” she said.
Vaughan and Shuttleworth both agreed that acts of kindness commemorated the legacy Mandela left behind.
“Through his life, humility and servanthood, we have learned what it means to be active members of society, serving others for the good of the whole community,” Vaughan said.
Shuttleworth added: “Now, more than ever, he needs to be remembered. He must be held high as a beacon of light and truth at this time.”