Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

WAMS changing the way we do business

Staff at Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) are on the frontline, helping to protect the local Walgett community from COVID-19 since late January. They have been working very closely with other local agencies in the town to prevent the spread of the virus. This has not come at a cost to the local community or WAMS itself due to the closure of some chronic disease programs and dental services.

Mrs Christine Corby, CEO of WAMS, said “My staff have done a wonderful job under extremely difficult circumstances to ensure the community have access to quality health care.  We have had to make a few adjustments to our daily operations. Staff have been allocated tasks that are not part of their general routine”.

“Staff have been doing regular welfare checks and delivering food and medicine to our most vulnerable clients. This is an activity that WAMS does not normally provide to the community, but we have had to modify our operation to best support community in a time of need” Mrs Corby said.

It is now the beginning of the cooler months and the flu season. WAMS are currently rolling out the 2020 flu vaccination and encourage those who are pregnant, 65 years above with a chronic disease and/or of Aboriginal descent aged 6 months or over, to have their annual flu vaccine. The flu vaccine does not prevent COVID-19 but does protect against influenza which claimed 430 lives and 217 000 hospitalisations last year. Mrs Corby strongly encourages everyone to make an appointment to get their flu vaccine this year.

Author – Jo Coleman, The Spectator