Ms Mabena celebrated for her service in nursing

LEANDRA – Ms Khethwa Emma Mabena (62), Lebohang Primary Health Care Manager, retired after 40 years of service as a nurse.

Her career in nursing began in 1973 at the Philadelphia Hospital as an enrolled nurse and she got honors in 1975.

She did not stop there, but furthered her studies to that of general nursing and then graduated in 1978.

Ms Mabena said: “I believe I was called to be a nurse.

“I was not brilliant in primary and high school, but everything changed when I was training for nursing.”

Her studies at the Philadelphia Hospital included community nursing and primary health care.

She was then employed at the Lebohang Clinic in 1981 and worked there for two years.

“It was not an easy time because of apartheid, so I could not cope in Lebohang and was forced to look for greener pastures.

“I got a job at the Leslie Mine where I worked for eight years, whereafter I returned to Lebohang in 1990.”

Lebohang Primary Health Care staff and residents held a farewell function for Ms Mabena on Friday, 6 December.

Various speakers appreciated her for the role she had played in transforming Lebohang Clinic into a primary health care facility which gave residents a better chance of being attended to, even at night.

She was described as a devoted, committed and hardworking person.

In her speech, Ms Mabena expressed her gratitude towards the Lebohang Primary Health Care staff and residents.

“I am grateful to God for giving me a chance to work with the wonderful people of Lebohang.

“You are more than colleagues and patients, you are my family.

“The time has come for me to rest after so many years of service, but I promise you I will be always involved in community-based projects and campaigns.

“To my colleagues remember as nurses in a primary health care facility, your duties are to prevent, to provide and to refer.

“Let us do our patients justice by being committed to our ethics and values.”