Home | News | NATIONWIDE TESTING PROGRAMME FOR COPS

NATIONWIDE TESTING PROGRAMME FOR COPS

12/01/2021 00:59:00 BY THOKOZANI MAMBA

Font size:

SITEKI – In a bid to keep the police service infection rate minimal, National Commissioner William Dlamini has ordered a nationwide testing programme for the law enforcers.

Yesterday, Dlamini stated that the testing was part of the police service routine practice which was in line with preventative methods to ensure that they were tested and those testing positive for COVID-19 be isolated.

The commissioner mentioned that they had health facilities within their camps, which had been actively involved in the testing process of the officers since the hike in COVID-19 cases late last year.

Among the testing health units are the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU) camp at Ngonini, Police Academy in Matsapha, a sub-clinic at Hlatikhulu and another at the Siteki Regional Headquarters.

Nurses

In these facilities, Dlamini said they had professional nurses who would ensure that the officers were screened and tested for the virus.

He said their facilities’ testing procedure was in line with the Ministry of Health’s testing programme.

“We had a doctor who last year left us for greener pastures. We have these facilities which have been actively involved in the process of testing. The programme of testing is part of our health initiatives to ensure that our officers’ health is prioritised as frontline workers,” he said.

The commissioner commended the Ministry of Health for recommending their health facilities in conducting the testing and screening programme for the police service.

He said they would continue the screening and testing programme as part of their routine health practices in line with their preventative methods of the virus.

“We will maintain this programme and make it our priority as health comes first when it comes to the lives of the officers and the nation at large. We ask the public to adhere to the regulations outlined by government by making sure they wear masks, keep social distancing at all times and sanitise their hands. This is applicable even to businesses and at homes. Our main objective is to flatten the curve and keep our nation safe,” he said.

Yesterday, a substantial number of the law enforcers converged at the Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters clinic to be tested for COVID-19.

The officers were mostly from police stations around Siteki Town and surrounding areas.

Lubombo Regional Police Commissioner Charles Magagula acknowledged the exercise, pointing out that it was a routine practice that was mandatory at this period of the pandemic.

Tested

“We have a clinic here and coincidentally, you visited us while our officers are being tested. I would advise that you talk to the police mouthpiece who is authorised to disseminate information on behalf of the police service,” Magagula said.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati mentioned that the testing of police officers for COVID-19 was a routine practice employed by the law enforcement’s management as a preventative method against the virus.

She said the testing and screening exercise had been an ongoing process for some time now.

“This is a routine exercise that has been taking place since the second wave started. They are tested randomly. The organisation has a medical department that is always monitoring the health of our officers and providing all the necessary medical assistance and preventative measures for all sicknesses. Presently, screening services are provided for everyone like any other institution to ensure the safety of all officers,” Vilakati said.

A source within the police service mentioned that the decision to conduct the nationwide testing exercise was taken after nine of 15 police officers tested positive.

“The police chief wants to employ a strategy of having a team of healthy officers in place. This will assist in monitoring the infections and to make sure that the numbers are kept minimal,” the source said.