Big smile, warm heart
That is how people describe this caregiver who has dedicated her life to care for others
POLOKWANE – BONUS caught up with community mobiliser at Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) Limpopo, Enny Mashapa, who has a deep love for people and helping those in need.
“Growing up in Matoks, I saw many people who suffered as the community is very poor. I decided to do my part to help those in need and studied to become an ancillary nurse at the Capricorn Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Seshego campus.”
After she completed her studies, Enny did her practical training at Cansa and it was here where she realised there is a great need to care for patients diagnosed with cancer.
This motivated her to enrol in more courses to improve her ability and knowledge as a care worker with special focus on caring for people who need HIV counselling, and giving special care to patients and their families dealing with cancer.
“I began my journey with Cansa in 2007 where I worked with the children in Ward R at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital, better known as the Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) ward. It was here where Cansa saw my passion and potential and hired me as a health programme coordinator. Part of my new responsibilities included visiting parents of children with cancer as well as educating people about the disease. I loved every moment of helping others and in 2013 I was promoted to community mobiliser.”
Now, she explains, she travels to rural areas where she educates people about cancer as well as support patients diagnosed with cancer and their families. Along with these duties, she is also a counsellor at the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital and offers assistance to those who do not have medical aid to be assisted at the provincial hospital.
“One of the worst parts of my job is finding a patient with stage three or later cancer who refuses treatment. Some of these people refuse our help as they say it is witchcraft which caused their illness so they would rather go to sangoma’s for treatment instead of going to hospital. However, we hope to help eradicate these beliefs with our awareness campaigns in rural areas, this is the best part for me,” she said. She added that it takes a lot of patience to work with people who have cancer but that she does it gladly because she has a deep-set passion for helping others. “Other necessary skills include being able to listen to people voice their concerns and remaining unbiased and not judging them on their actions or outbursts,” she concluded.
