Providing health services for farm workers during COVID-19: a case study of an NGO in a rural agricultural area

Abstract

Farming, an essential service, continued during the most restricted phase of South Africa’s national lockdown. This chapter documents how Hlokomela, a non-governmental organisation in rural Limpopo, provided health and other social services to the farming community during this time. We documented the Hlokomela health services response to COVID-19 while conducting a pilot study of a partial-payment scheme for farm employers whose workers accessed their health services. From mid-March to June 2020, in-depth interviews with Hlokomela management, as well as reviews of the Hlokomela weekly newsletter, were added to pilot research activities. We undertook a case study using a systems lens to examine how the organisation addressed the needs of a rural agricultural community affected by COVID-19 lockdown measures. Hlokomela was able to address gaps in the health response for farm workers, farm employers and the broader community. Through leveraging established networks, the organisation supplemented the State’s COVID-19 response by providing four types of outreach activities: provision of personal protective equipment; workplace and community screening services; training and awareness activities; and distribution of food. Hlokomela utilised four strategic areas that enabled a strengthened health response: adaptability, health promotion, a network with local stakeholders, and social development outreach. The case study highlights the potential role of creative partnerships between the State and non-governmental organisations for health service delivery in rural agricultural regions.