A husband-and-wife duo from South Africa, Dr Marcelle Jaffa and Dr Charlotte Jaffa, are among the overseas medical recruits who’ve arrived to help take pressure off the Victorian health system as it comes under strain from COVID-19.

The couple, who arrived in Melbourne from Cape Town with their three young children, are working at Epping’s Northern Hospital and have described the efforts of local healthcare workers as “heroic”. 

“We are very glad to see that the same drive, passion and commitment towards giving quality health care despite working under immense pressure mirrored,” Dr Charlotte Jaffa told reporters. 

Victoria will spend $2.5 million to recruit up to 1000 extra healthcare workers who are living overseas, to support the state’s struggling health system.