How Hlokomela is mobilizing to educate and protect South African farm workers in the wake of COVID-19
By Madison Greer
“I can just say that it’s a privilege to have my staff and farmers and farm workers, everybody just working together and trying to make the best of this.” – Christine du Preez, Founder and Director of Hlokomela
Hlokomela’s Approach
Pre- COVID-19
Hlokomela (Hoedspruit Training Trust) was founded by Christine du Preez in 2005 as an NGO for HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, and chronic disease awareness. Since then, the organization has been achieving its mission of empowering vulnerable farm workers by improving access to health resources through on-site initiatives and peer education. Hlokomela’s accredited clinics administer Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) for HIV/AIDS treatment, ultrasounds for breast cancer prevention and detection, chronic medication, and overall wellness services. With more than 80 caregivers, or Nompilos, on staff, Hlokomela works with over 72 farms and 40,000 farm workers annually, encouraging a holistic approach to health and wellness. Day to day operations include a Sex Worker Project, Herb Garden, Women’s Clinic, and a variety of other health and social programs.
COVID-19 Response
The last five weeks at Hlokomela have looked different as du Preez leads the organization’s shift to COVID-19 response.
Education and Awareness: Realizing that farm workers are riding into Hoedspruit and Limpopo each morning on about 48 crowded buses each morning, Hlokomela began sending Nompilos and staff to bus stops. At stops and on farms, their team is providing infographics in local languages, showing workers how to properly wash their hands and protect themselves, and offering drive-through screening.
Mask Shortages: Due to the global shortage at the pandemic’s start, lack of masks presented a major problem in local efforts. In response, Hlokomela’s Sewing Project, usually tasked with making sanitary pads, began producing buffs for farm workers to cover their mouth and nose. The three women team worked constantly for the first two weeks of production, and the team has made about 7,500 buffs to date. Masks are now available for nurses, but buffs remain the easiest and fastest way to protect the farm workers.
Food and Hunger: COVID-19’s effect on the world economy has had devastating consequences, especially for the tourism industry that many in Hoedspruit rely on for work. With lodges closed down completely and workers being sent back to their homes, hunger has become a major problem. Luckily, Hoedspruit is working with a community of farmers, support groups and non-profit organizations to get food and citrus fruits to villages.
Looking Ahead
Though COVID-19 response continues to be a major activity for Hlokomela, du Preez makes it clear that the organization cannot change completely.
“Remember that there’s still TB, there’s still HIV, there’s breast cancer still. There’s also primary healthcare and chronic medication that we must get out to people. That won’t ever change. But there’s an extra thing now — COVID-19.”
Lessons for Others
Hlokomela is working closely with NGOs, community workers, and funders to mobilize, something that du Preez emphasizes as a key to success.
“I think what might be the biggest thing would be for everybody to work together and change the way we are thinking. I said to my staff the other day, the one thing that we must know is that the world is changing, so we must change our way of thinking.”
Christine du Preez is the Founder and Director of Hlokomela.
