Sister Ofhani Mande (32), better known as Naomi, found her real passion in life after always wanting to become a chemical engineer.

Mande grew up in Limpopo, where she also finished school and studied chemical engineering. However, she decided to change her study direction to become a registered nurse.

It was during her practical exercises while still studying that she realised she was cut out to be a nurse.

“Other nursing students really struggled to put in an IV drip; I got it right in my first year,” said Mande.

“I just loved what I learnt as a nurse and especially when we started with practical, I enjoyed that even more than the theory.”

Mande

She completed her nursing degree at the TVET College in Thohoyandou and completed her community service year at Musina Hospital.

She then worked at the well-known Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto before joining the eMbalenhle Health Care Centre as a Covid nurse during the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.

After things calmed down after the pandemic, Mande joined the Secunda branch of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS)’ mobile clinic and started seeing a whole different side of healthcare.

“I learnt a lot of new things since I joined the blood service,” said Mande.

ALSO READ: VLU-leier op Bethal verkies as visie-voorsitter op konferensie-vlak

After two years at the mobile clinics of the blood service, Mande started working at the Secunda donor centre and was recently promoted to the centre’s clinic supervisor.

She has been working at the centre for five years and wants to learn as much as she can and grow as much as she can in her career.

Mande is married to a technical engineer, and the couple has two children, aged 12 and three.

In her free time, she enjoys listening to worship music, cooking and baking, and spending time with her family. She said God has been her anchor and pillar of faith and strength.

ALSO READ: Standerton Police Station celebrates promotions while honouring retiring veterans