A Khayelitsha woman has started a WhatsApp support group for Covid-19 patients to share ideas on how to beat the invisible enemy.
Ncumisa Mahangu says she got the virus from an infected person and decided to share her story on social media to bust stigmas around the illness.
“I went for testing, then disclosed on Facebook whilst waiting for my results, which was a stressful journey,” she says. “People inboxed me, telling their stories.”
Thankfully, she did not test positive, but Ncumisa says she saw the need for more awareness about the Coronavirus.
“It was mostly single women who kept on sending me messages and I could not keep up with the messages, hence I decided to open the group.”
Ncumisa, who works at the City of Cape Town serving as chairperson on the Homeless Agency Committee, says the WhatsApp group has become a beacon of hope for those with the virus.
One of them is Zamahlubi Radebe, who tested positive on 23 May.
ADVICE: Zamahlubi Radebe
“I joined the group after seeing the posts on Facebook. The group made me feel not so lonely and I got advice on what to use to survive” says Zamahlubi.
“People in the group have beaten the virus and we are showing each other that this Covid-19 is beatable if we work together.”
Khayelitsha currently has about 1096 active cases.
Ncumisa says a lot of people are getting misleading information Covid-19.
“When a person tests positive, accept any advice they get. On the group, all the advice is supported by evidence,” she adds.