Tersia elected as vice-chairperson of the HPCA
Tersia Burger talks about being elected as the vice-chairperson of the HPCA and what the future holds.
Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services’ CEO Tersia Burger takes a top seat in the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of South Africa.
In 2013, as a promise to her dying daughter, Tersia Burger started Alberton’s first ever Hospice facility.
A mere nine years later, she now not only serves as CEO of Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services and chairperson of the Gauteng Hospice & Palliative Care Association but has just been elected vice-chair of the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of South Africa.
As chairperson of the Gauteng Hospice & Palliative Care Association, she automatically became a member of the board of the National HPCA, where she says she gained valuable experience on a provincial and national level.
“I am humbled, honoured and grateful for the privilege and the trust that the Hospice community has put in me. I am also very excited to be able to have input in this world we live (and die) in,” Tersia said.
The Hospice & Palliative Care Association of South Africa was founded in 1987 and is a membership organisation for Hospices in South Africa. The mission of this organisation is to promote quality of life, dignity in death and support in bereavement for those living with a life-threatening illness by supporting member hospices and partner organisations.
Tersia’s excitement about the future is palpable and she is looking forward to working with Dr Aslam Dasoo, chairperson of HPCA South Africa.
“He is a man whom I greatly admire and respect. I am excited to work closely with him and benefit from his wisdom, vision, knowledge and hopefully his network.
“I am a great believer in mentorship and look forward to growing the membership numbers of HPCA South Africa. The HPCA is the custodian of palliative care. Membership means you abide by and implement their procedures and policies. It proves to the patient, the families, the medical aids, the donors and all other stakeholders that Hospice facilities are professional organisations where the standard of palliative care is measured against a set table of rules, procedures and policies,” she explained.
Tersia serves on both the Accreditation and Standards Review Committees.
“I wish to express a special thank you to the staff at Stepping Stone Hospice for their support and belief in me and am so incredibly proud of their total commitment to the sacred work they do. I am particularly grateful to Sr Margi Bollman and Portia Ndobela who are so competent and efficient that they have freed me up to take on the extra responsibility. A succession plan is an integral part of good governance. I know that no matter what Stepping Stone Hospice will always be in good hands,” said Tersia.
