For over 20 years, GVI has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, GVI has created the GVI health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet or exceed international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of GVI’s participants, staff and communities around the world. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments of Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.
The work GVI is contributing to across the globe remains important and the following measures allow our participants to continue to join GVI’s programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. The following changes to our existing protocols have been made by the GVI health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities.
COVID-19 pre arrival and departure testing
As part of our commitment to keeping our participants, staff and community members safe, we require that all participants must have a negative PCR or RAT COVID-19 test, administered by a medical professional, a minimum of 72 hours prior to their GVI Program
commencement. We will also be screening new arrivals for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and may require additional COVID-19 tests if we feel the circumstances warrant an additional test.
Ensuring compliance
Specific training
Implementation of screening, monitoring and limited access
Implementation of physical distancing
Zonation of base locations
Increased Sanitation
COVID-19: Health and Hygiene procedures
COVID-19 has made life a little more tricky in many ways. While we are thrilled to be hosting participants on base again, this comes with new challenges – and subsequent expenses. These expenses are incurred in an effort to keep our participants as safe as possible; our number one concern.
So here’s a further breakdown of what Health and Hygiene protocols where have put in place and why:
COVID-19: HEALTH AND HYGIENE PROCEDURES
Upon arriving at your program, we will ensure that you have access to items such as personal cloth face coverings, soap and hand sanitizer that can be used to ensure your safety and maintain the standards of cleanliness on base. These items are subject to availability and might differ slightly depending on your base location.
FACILITATING PRE-DEPARTURE TESTING
If needed and in preparation for your return journey, GVI will also support you in reaching a COVID-19 testing centre 72 hours prior to departure to your home country. This includes handling all the logistics involved, organising transport and accommodation (if needed) and covering all the costs of getting you to the testing centre.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
With over 20 years of experience, we are passionate and experienced in providing extensive support throughout each participants’ journey, ensuring the highest safety standards possible. This is why we have also put in place new standards of cleanliness and protocols that meet international safety recommendations. These include social distancing, pre-arrival and pre-departure COVID-19 testing and wearing masks on base.
Supply, use and enforcement of personal protection clothing
Increase frequency of cleaning
Facilitating compliance
Implementation of waste management
Use of protocols during transportation
Actions plans for suspected cases
Monitoring of international and national recommendations