Honouring SA's nurses
1 July 2003
Sekutu Monica Mochadi from Limpopo was crowned the country’s first Khomanani "excellent health worker" at a glittering award ceremony in Pretoria on Monday.
Mochadi is chief professional nurse at St Ritas Hospital and co-ordinates home-based care for terminally ill Aids patients. She was awarded R50 000 in prize money.
The second runner-up was professional nurse Sarina Raath, who works with tuberculosis patients at the Britstown Community health centre in the Northern Cape.
Occupational health nurse Haniefa Bi Allee, who cares for HIV patients at the McCord Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, was the first runner-up.
Although Mochadi came tops over 11 finalists, all the nominees were honoured for their selflessness and commitment in providing meticulous health care to HIV-Aids and TB patients. The awards honour and encourage health workers in the areas of HIV-Aids, TB and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In accepting the
award, Mochadi attributed her success to efforts by the support group for people living with HIV-Aids which she formed at Glen Cowie. "Those people go out to conduct public education campaigns, thereby breaking the silence about their HIV-positive status, and this has led to a greater awareness of the disease among young people in the area," Mochadi said.
She said although the group members lacked transport to travel to outlying areas to conduct counselling, this did not deter them from walking to these areas.
Mochadi has 20 health workers assisting her with the home-based care programme, and has introduced a step-down ward at the hospital, where all the patients receive their treatment.
She added that she has devoted all her energies to providing quality health care to the community, and that she remained unfazed by the many deaths she witnessed.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said the finalists embodied the meaning of Khomanani - a Tsonga word
meaning "working together". "HIV-Aids requires our health workers to treat patients with dignity, and government will assist with the necessary resources to curb these diseases," said Tshabalala-Msimang.
The other finalists were Confidence Mabulwana (Limpopo), Margaret Bonisile Dlamini (Gauteng), Ruth Hartley (Western Cape), Ivy Hlagane Malapane (Limpopo), Kgaogano Kgosimang (North West), Nomvuyo Kosana (Eastern Cape), Mojene Moswa (Limpopo) and Tebogo Mothibeli (Free State).
Source: BuaNews
 | 
