Bringing hope and compassion to residents

Ms Mosima Tsiri is an adherence facilitator at the Bez Valley Clinic, and was once described by a patient as a true South African heroine.

She is the second daughter to Ms Nora Tsiri, who hails from Kanana in Molejti, in Limpopo.She helps patients to adhere to their treatment of chronic illnesses.

Tsiri said she wanted to be a lawyer or a traffic official, but due to circumstances, she could not reach that dream.

In 2011 she was part of a government programme that took her to the Bez Valley Clinic.

When she arrived at the clinic, she was taken to many training sessions and eventually became an HIV/Aids councillor.

After further training, she became a facilitator.

Her job entails exercising with patients, testing them for different diseases and giving them their prepared medication.

She also has to make sure that patients understand why they need to take their medication.

“Some people are misinformed and they take that information as truth. Sometimes the wrong information means the patient does not take their medication. I have to find the root cause of that and give the right information. Some take the medication on an empty stomach. The patient then vomits and thinks it is because of the medication, when it is actually because the medication was taken on an empty stomach. I need to talk to the patient and make them understand,” she said.

According to Ms Tsiri, some patients come to the clinic with unrelated personal issues.

“We need to deal with that first. Some people have worked in the medical field before. They then want things done the way they know, but I then remind them that the field of medicine is constantly changing,” she said.

One problem with young people, which she sometimes faces, is that they battle to accept the news of a chronic illness.

“Many young people come to the clinic and are diagnosed with illnesses like sugar diabetics, asthma, HIV, cancer and other illnesses. Sometimes people think the diagnosis means they are going to die. Some worry that the community will shun them. My job includes letting them know that the illness normally does not kill you, but the stress you cause for yourself does,” she said.

According to Ms Tsiri, if a person takes the prescribed medication, they can sometimes forget they even have a chronic illness.

She said her job is filled with love.

“I love my patients and they love me. That makes things easier for all of us,” she said.

Lack information and fear is still perpetuating chronic illnesses.

In the few past months, she met a 58-year-old woman who found out she is HIV positive, 16 years after the death of her husband.

“Her main concern was that her children would think she had slept around after the death of their father. She was scared to tell them. This is not an uncommon situation. Some people do not take the treatment after finding out like this,” said Ms Tsiri.

After a long discussion with the woman, she called her children to the clinic.

“I offered to break the news to them because she was afraid of their reaction. Both her children are married. They were open-minded and took the news positively. I can tell you that now the family is more open and supportive,” said Ms Tsiri.

Ms Tsiri received a letter of thanks from a patient.

The patient said Ms Tsiri had helped her through the difficult times with respect and without discrimination.

“This is a South African hero(ine),” said the patient.

Ms Tsiri said when in the position of leadership, one must remain neutral.

“Have the ground rules. Know what you are doing. Respect other people. Respect the opinions of other people. Know that you are leading people with feelings. Separate your personal issues from your work issues. Try to be neutral at all times. You are the team leader, lead them,” said Ms Tsiri.

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