TSHILIDZINI - In recognition of the good work done by its long-serving health worker, the Department of Health and Welfare at Regional level, held a farewell function to honour Mrs Nangani Elizabeth Ndou last Friday.

Mrs Ndou retired at the age of 62. She worked as a nurse in many hospitals including Nthume, Siloam, Elim and Donald Fraser. Mrs Ndou started working as a nurse in 1958 at Elim Hospital.

She trained at Bridge Man Midwifery from 1963 to 1964. In 1965 she went to work at Donald Fraser Hospital and in 1985 she was promoted and worked as the first clinic supervisor. She also worked as a secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Many of her colleagues who were present at her farewell function described her as a hard worker and committed nurse. During her early days as a nurse, nurses did not receive satisfactory salaries, but Mrs Ndou worked very hard because she had love for her patients. Some of her colleagues described Mrs Ndou as a pioneer, who sacrificed a lot in order to care for the ill.

Mrs Ndou was also involved in the formation of Care groups. She told Mirror that even though she has retired, she is not going to sit down and relax, she is going to continue with Inter-denominational work and join a group of retired nurses who are involved in the development of home based care and support psychiatric patients.

As from 1990 to date, she worked as Deputy Manager and Coordinator of Primary Health Care and Reproductive Health.