Cape Town - "A national lockdown does not help. We have to increase the number of vaccinations per day," says retired nurse and author, Nomathemba Mazaleni, as we meet at the new Joy's Eatery in Vincent, East London.
Mazaleni has just penned a book titled A Nurse's Legacy: Lessons from a life of service, and on June 22, 2021, her 69th birthday, she launched it at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.
To date, South Africa has vaccinated just over 3.3-million South Africans. More than 62 000 lives have perished.
"Rarely is the role of nurses ever acknowledged, yet, so many healthcare workers have died during this pandemic. Perhaps the acting health minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, must start each address by acknowledging the role of nurses and doctors," says a concerned Mazaleni while whispering that such a ministerial position requires someone with a medical background though.
South Africa currently has over 400 000 registered nurses who all play a critical role in our healthcare system. Mazaleni has over 40 years experience: from being a student nurse at Frere Hospital, the chief professional nurse in Trust Areas, principal programme associate abroad, and being the health department’s director of monitoring and evaluation in the Eastern Cape.
Before leaving South Africa in 1992, she was an active member of the National Progressive Primary Health Care Network, which was focussed on changing primary health care systems as envisaged by the then- incoming ANC government.
The book can be summed up as a nursing, travel, management and governance companion in which Mazaleni shares parts of her life. Born to a teacher and domestic worker in Hankey, she studied at Healdtown, moved to Mdantsane, began her career at Frere Hospital, obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Liverpool, travelled the world and served in several leadership positions.
With five full passports, Mazaleni has travelled to over 50 parts of the world where she has at times asked herself "what the hell am I doing here!?" all in the name of advancing her nursing career.
Sacrifices were made. "My daughter Pinky, who was 11 when I first went to the UK, felt like I was abandoning her. She went through a rebellious stage. It was difficult to explain to her at the time that all the international travel and work was to ensure a better future for us."
Her guilt has not quite subsided as she justifies writing this book to also make it clear to her grandchildren and Pinky, who now lives in Canada, that the work she did was not in vain.
The book further encourages young people, particularly those in nursing, to travel: "You must travel the world whilst you can still sleep in your jeans" she quips whilst alluding to some uncomfortable experiences in places like Uganda.
"In this book, I show how someone from humble beginnings can go on to travel the world and lead international community-based healthcare organisations. Travelling enhances one’s confidence, shifts perspectives, and re-arranges your mindset on how the world works.”
Apart from the acronyms and medical terms peppering each chapter, you will also learn that pawpaw is good for an upset stomach, Ghana does not have the best food, Americans can be really arrogant, feminists (like the author) have long existed in this country and that it is still a man's world when it comes to the healthcare sector.
Many lessons are imparted in the pages of this book. You will also come across some prominent figures she studied with at Healdtown, such as former Cape Town City Manager and AYO Technologies Director, Dr Wallace Mgoqi, and other highly recognised figures she crossed paths with during the course of her 40-year career.
When it comes to matters of good governance in the department of health, she cannot stress enough the importance of training future leaders: "Being good at your job does not mean you will be a good leader. Many good technical people are promoted to management positions because of their technical skills. They may fall short in leadership and management skills, though. Mentorship is key. You cannot manage alone. Build a team as well as work through and with people.”
As we wrap up our chat, we go back to the matter of Covid-19. Mazaleni will be getting her second jab of the Pfizer vaccine soon at Victoria Hospital in Alice. She moved back to her father’s Krwakrwa Village homestead and commutes regularly to Bhisho, where she still serves as a consultant today.
“The world is watching an invisible virus killing thousands of people. The lockdown is not helping at all. Vaccinate. You might still get sick after vaccination, but at least you will not die.”
On the elderly who now fear vaccination and equate it to various conspiracy theories, she advises: "We have been through this. You took your kids to immunisation. Think chickenpox, pneumonia, flu and so on. That was vaccination. Get vaccinated. Covid-19 is real."
As I fold away my notepad, I am left wishing my grandmother had written a similar book about her life. In fact, I now would encourage elderly parents to write such autobiographies. If not for the public, do it for your family.
*A Nurse's Legacy: Lessons from a life of Service is published by Darren August at Inspired and is now available on Amazon. Direct orders can also be placed via 082 587 0556.
Cape Times