As part of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University’s care initiative, the School of Nursing Science donated a lemon tree to several healthcare facilities in and around Potchefstroom in 2015 and again in 2018.
The second-year nursing students planted the trees so that the community may, in the future, use the lemons as needed without cost. This project also forms part of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), as prescribed by the Department of Health. According to the IMCI guidelines, part of the treatment for a coughing child is the remedy of warm water or weak tea with sugar and lemon to soothe the throat and relieve the cough.
During March 2020, the second-year nursing students provided health education for the parents of children from birth up to five years at different facilities. They taught them how to prepare and use the remedy. The students donated a teabag, sugar, and lemon to the parents to use at home.
Every year, the facility that has looked after its two trees the best earns a certificate at the graduation ceremony of the School of Nursing Science (SONS). This year, Lesego Clinic took the honours.
Sisters, Cheryl Jordaan and Anna-Therese Swart from the School of Nursing Science came up with the idea of donating the lemon trees to the practical facilities. Sr Stephani Botha initiated the concept of making up packages of a teabag, sugar, and lemon and giving them to the parents of the sick children at the facilities. The School of Nursing Science thanks the staff of the facilities and NWU students for their positive attitude and support.
