Meet Hlotshisiwe Msakanda!
Sister Msakanda is 51 years old and was born in Gweru. She requested to be transferred to Ngamo Clinic as she wanted to work in a new community and was up for a challenge! She's also keen to see more of the wildlife in this area as it seems to play such a key role in the community.
Sister Msakanda says Ngamo Clinic is "peaceful" and that she's found the community and Imvelo Safari Lodges welcoming and very supportive.
Sister Msakanda says there are challenges to working in such a rural setting...electricity is not yet fully installed at the Clinic, there is no ambulance (and roads are difficult!) and there is no doctor yet. Despite such challenges she knows that the Clinic is achieving a great deal and has had an enormous impact on the communities...and will continue to grow its support for the local people. She hopes to be able to stay at the Clinic a long time, to serve the people and help them as much as possible. She'd also like to further her studies specifically in terms of supporting adolescents, and encourage them on possible opportunities beyond school. Sister Msakanda is also keen to study advanced management of HIV to have more knowledge and more intensively support vulnerable community members.
The Sister in Charge is excited to discover more about the wildlife in the area and spend some more time with the rhinos.
As of the end of May 2023, the Clinic has treated 1,900 patients since 15 September 2022. Cases reported include:
173 cases of pneumonia
23 cases of diarrhoe
0 cases of abortions
17 cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
32 cases of eye conditions
53 cases of Ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions
11 cases of dental pain
6 cases of malaria
51 cases of skin problems
25 cases of injuries
Meet Vusa - the security guard who also carries out a lot of the maintenance work at the Clinic!
Photos (from left to right): Receiving a top up of supplies and medication, patients waiting outside the consultation room, the Clinic, in consultation with patients.
For more information about the Ngamo Clinic and how it links to the the Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, contact us here