Sister Mbatha, who has been working at Blessed Gérard's Nursing Centre for more than two years, gave an interview to a German volunteer.
What do you like most about your job?
What I like most about my job is that I can prevent diseases by educating the general public, teaching patients how to take their medication, how to deal with the side effects and what to do when they feel lonely. It is very interesting to help patients with their different problems.
What are the biggest challenges in your job?
One of the biggest challenges for me is caring for a dying child and seeing this young little body fighting for its life. There is never a routine in that. I also find it very difficult to deal with a patient who is in a state of repression. Nothing you teach him about his condition and how to deal with it sinks into his consciousness. He refuses to take medication or go to the doctor regularly and does not understand that he is putting his life in danger.
Why do you think young men and women should become nurses?
Young people should join us because we nurses are warriors. We fight diseases. We fight for the lives of our patients. Many people still get infected with AIDS, which means that we nurses are not enough. We need young men and women with new energy and new strategies to fight HIV and AIDS.