Voices from the Frontline

PATA voices is a collection of frontline healthcare provider stories, insights, and experiences. This page is for healthcare providers by healthcare providers. Frontline healthcare workers are the face of care to the millions of children, adolescents, and communities affected by HIV that they serve. This is a safe space for healthcare providers to share their challenges, experiences, struggles, and achievements in a caring community.

Please join us to acknowledge, show appreciation and value those on the frontline.

Healthcare Provider Champions for Children, Adolescents and Young People

PATA’s Healthcare Provider Champions celebrates nurses, counsellors, doctors, social workers, pharmacists, community health workers and peer supporters who deliver quality HIV prevention, treatment and care services for children, adolescents and young people in clinics and communities where they Do it Right, Do it Together, Do it Every day!

Meet some healthcare provider champions that we’ve celebrated.

We are always looking for stories and insights into how healthcare providers are #DoingTheRightThing. Share a story about yourself or a healthcare provider that inspires you. and sSelect stories will be featured on PATA’s website and beyond!

Share your healthcare provider story
Betherida Lukalanga

Betherida Lukalanga

Nominated by Ngosa

Cathrine Kgothatso Ramodipa

Ramodipa Kgothatso

Nominated by Mokete

Hulda Odero

Hulda Odero

Nominated by Celine

Innocent Okello

Innocent Okello

Nominated by Jacqualine

Dr Liane Campbell

Dr Liane Campbell

Nominated by Grace

Nomusa Ndlovu

Sister Nomusa Ndlovu

Nominated by Musa

Tikhale Singano

Tikhale Singano

Nominated by Geoffrey

Nkwen Baptist Health Centre

Nkwen Baptist Health Cente

Nonhlanhla Mazaleni

Nonhlanhla Mazaleni

Nominated by Lerato

Rebecca Phasha

Rebecca Phasha

Nominated by Maditaba Patience Tau, IFASCO

Cephas Nkandu

Cephas Nkandu

Nominated by Peter Mwila, Pride Community Health Organization

Monica Mutundo

Monica Mutundo

Nominated by Anonymous, CATS-Community Adherence Treatment Supporter

Charles Chishala

Charles Chishala

Nominated by Lontia Mweemba, PRICHO

Clinic Champions

Adolescents adhere to care when the appropriate services are provided. The Nkwen Baptist Health Center says it is possible.

“14 years ago, when I started treatment, I was obliged to listen to what I considered absurd lectures amid adults at treatment centres and queued in with them for my ARVs. Before long, I defaulted. I didn’t see how it was helping me.” For Donald, who is now 28-years-old, HIV services were incredibly unfriendly when he was a 14-year-old adolescent.

Our COVID-19 Action Plan

As the frontline of health service delivery faced an emergency in the face of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, PATA’s action plan for COVID-19 aimed to support frontline health providers across the PATA network. We also asked frontline health providers to complete surveys in 2020 and 2021, which enabled us to better understand frontline realities and help frontline health providers get what they need during the pandemic.

View Our Action plan

Our podcast series

PATA Podcast Series is a 3-part series featuring health providers giving advice to their peers on how to be COVID-19 ready on the frontline.

PATA introduced the PATA Podcast Series, for health providers by health providers to promote resilience by creating a sense of community, where health providers share experiences and give advice to their peers on how to be COVID-19 ready on the frontline.

PATA Podcast Series

Episode 1

How to get primary health facilities ready for #COVID19 and beyond. Featured in this episode are health providers Epie Fanny, Athience Matongo and Eugene Mupakile.

PATA Podcast Series

Episode 2

How health facilities are adapting #HIV treatment and care for children, adolescents, and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featured in this episode are health providers Caroline Nyandat and Naomi Monda.

PATA Podcast Series

Episode 3

The importance of managing stress, mental health and self-care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featured in this episode are health providers Roger Bedford and Epie Fanny.

Our song

The PATA PATA Song, recorded in 2016 by Dr Patrick Oyaro, PATA Board member and Chief Executive Office of Health Innovations, Kenya calls for us to unite and end AIDS for all children once and for all.

Messages of Support:

PATA invites all to acknowledge and show support for frontline healthcare providers. These messages are shared across the PATA website and social media platforms as a tribute of our appreciation.

    This is the hardest time

    This is the hardest time in our lives worldwide, especially for those who have to stand in the forefront fighting this pandemic. I say to everyone trying their best to reduce the damage that this pandemic continueS to cause that we thank you for all your bravery. A hero is someone who is selfless and who strives to create change for the better, y’áll are our heroes. We thank you for your determination.

    Boitumelo Mokgatlhe

    Dear Frontline health care providers

    Dear Frontline health care providers thank you for having the interest of us, making us your priority, risking your lives just to save us during this very challenging times (COVID-19).
    We appreciate and love you 💚🙏🏿

    Futhie🤗

    Precious

    Thank you so very much

    Thank you so very much for all that you do. I am standing beside you all of the way.

    Corinna Csaky

    To all those wonderful frontline

    To all those wonderful frontline healthworkers who are risking their own health to help others, you are the unsung heroes and we are truly grateful for you dedication

    Linda Whitby

    Thank you for the incredible

    Thank you for the incredible work you are all doing to support young people during this difficult time. Stay well.

    Lola

    Gillian Makota

    Thinking of you our dear Frontline health providers during this COVID -19 crisis. You have our support and heartfelt appreciation. Sending love and virtual hugs to you all.

    Gillian Makota

    People who are affected by

    People who are affected by COVID-19 have not done anything wrong, and they deserve our support, compassion and kindness. It is normal to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, scared or angry during a crisis. However, remember time heals everything. We have COVID-19 today but we will not have it forever. Be positive but most importantly, Stay healthy, Stay Safe.

    Mark Francis Chalamanda

    We really need support to

    We really need support to our adolescents in this hard times. With the impact of the coronavirus, more services are being suspended including Viral Load and Teen Club sessions, however we need them to live positively during these hard times and we should give them all the support. We need them to get COVID-19 health services as soon as possible. We need them to have continued and fair service delivery of their ART. We need them to not default in their treatment. We need them receive enough SUPPORT.

    Charles k Phiri

    I support all the medical

    I support all the medical professionals who care about patients with COVID-19. And I’m concerned about them and their patients.

    MALY Albuquerque

    Tammy Sutherns Burdock

    Frontline health providers, we salute you during this challenging time. Thank you for being on the frontlines as the first line of defence against COVID-19, putting your own healthcare at risk. We are wishing you all good health and strength during this time.

    Tammy Sutherns Burdock

    We celebrate you all,our thoughts

    We celebrate you all,our thoughts and prayers are with you as you lead the charge from the front. Asante!

    Ringisai

    What can we do without

    What can we do without you, dear Frontline Health Care Workers, you are HEROES indeed

    Eugene Mupakile

    Just want to appreciate the

    I just want to appreciate the PATA health workers and their hard working during this period of the coronavirus pandemic. Let’s work together and follow instructions by the health providers.

    Ngosa musonda

    Hi our heroes, the health

    Hi, our heroes, the health care providers (Medics, Psychosocial, Managers, Drivers, researchers, etc), all those involved in the day-to-day fight against COVID-19, we are more than blessed to have you. Let the good Lord continue renewing your energies to keep keeping on.
    Thumbs to the COVID-19 patients, keep fighting on, hope is just at the end of the tunnel.
    Be blessed.

    Bennet Kizito

    I thank you for the

    I thank you for the bravery of helping the world in the fight against COVID-19. For that I say thank you all those that are on the frontline – we will continue praying for everyone of you God be with you all.

    Cephas Nkandu

    No words sisters and brothers

    No words sisters and brothers can describe how grateful I personally am for your care, skills and for putting other people ahead of your own health and safety. May God bless you and your families infinitely. You keep us alive and going. You’re our heroes!!

    Georgina Caswell

    To our Health professionals and

    To our health professionals and all assisting

    We appreciate the work that you are doing. Thank you for the time and I hope that we will beat this pandemic.

    Thembela

    Thinking of all the front

    Thinking of all the frontline workers – we all rely on your compassion and commitment. Thank you for your preparedness and hard work.

    Anton Ofield-Kerr

    Greetings I’ll wish that the

    Greetings. I hope that the health providers will be able to adequately sensitize and educate all AYPLHIV (adolescents and young people living with HIV) on HIV and COVID-19. It would also help to have small brochures, posters or flyers that can help them to know their position as they face the pandemic, teaching them to be careful and look after their immune systems. Thank you.

    NCHOTU BENEDICT ANYE

    A massive thank you to

    A massive thank you to the healthcare professionals around the world placing themselves at massive risk for the lives of others, I don’t think health care workers will ever be looked at the same way again after this crisis! Thank you!

    Andrew Burdock

    Health providers are the heart

    Health providers are the heart of any health system and in the face of an health emergency they hold the health and safety of all in their hands! Hugest thank you to all of the healthcare workers and those on the front lines who selflessly serve and sacrifice to care for our loved one’s !

    We see you, we stay home for you and will always stand up for you!

    THANK YOU !!

    Luann Hatane

    Dear healthcare providers,Thank you for

    Dear healthcare providers,
    Thank you for being so selfless and courageous in serving humanity. You are the heroes of this generation.

    Margail Brown

    COVID 2019 came as a

    COVID-19 came as a surprise globally but if we put our heads together we can control it. COVID-19 is real let’s stay at home!

    Spiwe Gumbo

    Thank you! Asante! Merci! Obrigado!

    Thank you! Asante! Merci! Obrigado! Shukran! Grazie! Enkosi! Ngiyabonga! to all our amazing health care workers and everyone else that is on the front line! Thank you for your humanity and putting us all before yourselves.

    Saima Jiwan

    Heleen Soeters

    Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you to all the health providers working on the frontline of this pandemic. You are an inspiration to us all. Your courage and selflessness is an inspiration to us all.

    Heleen Soeters

    Your love towards mankind is

    Your love towards mankind is priceless. I personally thank you so much our dear Health Workers from the deepest deep of my heart. Your sacrifice has surpassed the expected love that one has for another. We love you so much! Stay safe!

    Blessings Banda

    We thank you for all

    We thank you for all that you do to ensure our good health and courage.

    Ntumba Sharon Ariel

    To all the heroes Thank

    to all the heroes
    Thank you for the time and work you have put into helping others during this insane time. You are noticed and you are so appreciated. Thank you so much for your bravely, your sacrifices, and your unflagging compassion. health care workers are heroes and we wouldn’t be able to get through this time without you. What can we do without you people. From deep down of my Heart i say bravo. You are my inspiration

    Regina Musa Katongo

    Thank you for the sacrifice

    Thank you for the sacrifice you are making to keep us safe. To all those on the frontline, we are forever in your debt🙏

    Melanie

    A BIG thank you to

    A BIG thank you to all health workers and frontline staff for your support during this pandemic. May God bless you abundantly.

    Natsayi Kunene

    Thank you for not staying

    Thank you for not staying at home to keep us safe.

    We will stay at home and keep safe to show our appreciation.

    May you always be blessed .

    Ketina Chikwanda

    Our dear frontline health providers.

    Our dear frontline health providers. Thank you for your strength, courage and relentless spirit during this time – not only in your own countries but in the world at large. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We may never grasp the full extent of your sacrifice and what it costs you – but we see it, we recognize it and we celebrate it. Sending lots of love from down south. Stay safe!

    Linda Ndlovu

    Linda Ndlovu

    To our dear frontline health providers: We appreciate your continued dedication and strength. Thank you for putting your best foot forward despite the challenges you may be faced with during this difficult time-not only in your own countries, but the world at large. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Be safe.

    Linda Ndlovu

    Thank God for the health

    Thank God for the health care workers who are taking care of patients, clients and families in the covid area. God bless and protect you from diseases

    Dorcus Kanyenvu

    You have inspired us in

    You have inspired us in these trying times. Indeed you are a blessing to humanity.

    Kenan Ngambi

    Thank you to all front

    Thank you to all front liners for your braveness!
    You are in our Prayers! Be Safe!

    KERENG KEATLARETSE

    You have been our heroes

    You have been our heroes and you have been supporting us
    You deserve to be honoured
    Words cannot express how much we adore you
    Thank you health care providers

    Grace Ngulube

    Across the globe – thank you

    Across the globe, thank you to the trash collectors, truck drivers, freight pilots, grocery store workers and of course the health care workers/military aid/ and police. We must listen to WHO and work together to stop the spread and find a vacancy.

    Yana

    As we’re all facing this

    As we’re all facing this sad period of the pandemic of #COVID19,  let’s #StayAtHome and use social media to sensitize the community – then we can #StopCOVID19.

    Darell Bagula

    To frontline health providers:Life is

    To frontline health providers:Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans to serve lives we recognise your hard work during this COVID19 pandemic.

    It is not how much you do – it is how much love you put into doing it.

    Phakamani Moyo