The role of social work in the healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

Abstract

Globally, the social work profession seeks to empower and support vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. These roles and responsibilities seem to be lagging in Africa as the potentials of social workers are underutilized in many areas of practice including the hospital setting. Given the contributions of medical social work, this article highlights the roles of social workers in healthcare delivery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it emphasizes the challenges of medical social work. Since healthcare delivery requires collaboration, suggestions are made regarding ways to incorporate medical social work in healthcare settings for optimal healthcare delivery.