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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

SITHABILE Tshuma is a 72-year-old retired nurse from Gwanda District who has dedicated her time towards the healthcare of children in her community.

She has been a voluntary community childcare worker for the past 10 years, conducting door-to-door visits in her Ward 7 community where she monitors the health of children under five years.

During her visits, she weighs children, identifies ill children and children who are due for vaccination, and refers them to the clinic.

Tshuma also focuses on helping the elderly and people with disabilities. She says that her main duty is to move around her ward and monitor the health of children.

“There are some children that may be due for vaccination and I have to remind their parents to take them to the health facility.

Some children may be ill but guardians may overlook taking them to the hospital,” she said.

“I also identify malnourished children by carrying out observations such as weight. I focus on children under five years. I sometimes go beyond this age range because some children may have communicable diseases and other family members might also need medical attention,”

Tshuma also educates breastfeeding mothers and expecting mothers on various healthcare issues. She also educates residents on various health-related issues, such as hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention.

She says that as a community childcare worker, she plays a crucial role in educating the public during outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.

Tshuma did her nurse training in Mutare in 1986. She received training in psychiatry and midwifery. She worked at Maphisa Hospital, Mambale Clinic, Nathisa Clinic, and Filabusi Clinic.

She says that her love for healthcare led her to join voluntary work after retiring.

“For me being in healthcare is a calling and I developed love for the sector at a tender age. I retired on medical grounds but I vowed that wouldn’t be the end of my service in the sector,” said Tshuma.

“If you are into healthcare you can notice that someone is ill by merely looking at them. Through seeing how a person walks or looking at their eyes you can tell that something is wrong.

“As community health caregivers we work closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. They also hold periodic trainings so that we can remain updated with modern diseases and forms of treatment.”

Tshuma is also a member of the ward health club, which is a group of community members who promote health and hygiene in their area. She is a member of the Vukuzenzele Health Club in Ward 7.

Her club plays a crucial role during the clean-up exercise which is conducted monthly. She says that hygiene is an important component of health and wellness. – @DubeMatutu.