Following the official launch of the Department’s mass screening campaign on 8 April 2020 by Minister Ronald Lamola, at Johannesburg Management Area, Gauteng Region, Rooigrond Management Area began its local mass screening in partnership with the Provincial Health Department and Aurum Institute.
The screening was conducted on 19 April 2020 at Medium A and B correctional centres, and forms part of the department’s plan to prevent and contain the spread of Covid-19 in correctional facilities. About 723 offenders were screened.
Acting Area Commissioner Janet Herbst appreciated the partnership with the Department of Health to assist the management area with screening, and said she hoped that it will be extended to residents of Rooigrond married and single quarters. She explained that screening inside correctional centres will not be once-off, and will be intensified by health workers for both officials and inmates.
The screening process includes offenders answering questions on forms they are provided with, to help detect symptoms associated with COVID-19, temperature reading, education on the importance of sanitizing and an opportunity for them to ask questions. Rooigrond Health Care Manager, Letsatsi Kerileng reported that there were no suspicious cases detected during the screening. He further alluded that the process has helped the management area to deal with unanswered questions and myths about the Covid-19 pandemic, to avoid unrest amongst offenders. Inmates welcomed the initiative of being part of the Covid-19 screening and education campaign.
A few officials were also screened, and they too appreciated the measures taken by the Department to control the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic. The campaign will continue at the other three remaining centres in the near future.
