Tygerberg Hospital hails doctor as Covid-19 hero

Tygerberg Hospital hero doctor Jack Meintjes.

Tygerberg Hospital has named Dr Jack Meintjes as the first Hero Amongst Us, in a campaign that started this month to boost staff morale during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Hospital management came up with the initiative to spotlight the good work and personal qualities of those playing a key role in the fight against Covid-19.

Dr Meintjes has worked at Tygerberg Hospital for 15 years as a specialist in occupational medicine. As head of the unit for infection prevention and control, this Durbanville doctor has been helping the hospital and other health-care facilities in the province prepare for and deal with the pandemic. 

“It has been very challenging,and there were many sleepless nights we worked on policies, procedures and practices to protect our staff and patients against infections,” Dr Meintjies said. “From an occupational health point of view, we have been actively assisting in identifying colleagues who may be vulnerable to develop serious infection and to advise on their roles in the hospital. We are now also trying to assist the large number of colleagues who have recovered to complete their Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Act (COIDA) documentation and to successfully re-integrate them into the workplace.”

Dr Meintjes said he was glad to see how many of the hospital staff had recovered from Covid-19. “Many who have not yet been infected live in fear, but there is a positive message from those who have been through the infection… most of them heal and do not have any serious consequences. That is comforting.”