27 Mar 2022

Kanye Seventh Day Adventist College of Nursing (KSDACON) final year students attached at Ranaka Clinic, have been hailed for efforts to positively change residents’ lives.

Speaking during the hand over ceremony of an observation room built from contributions by student nurses and Ranaka Clinic staff, headman of arbitration, Mr Maburu Semana said, “We see these changes annually as the college attaches students here, we really appreciate your efforts.”

Mr Semana, however, decried unruly behaviour of some residents who once broke into the nurses’ houses. He assured the college that together with the police, they would ensure that there was no repeat of such.

“We do not condone criminal behaviour in our village, feel free to bring more of your students,” said Mr Semana.

Student nurses representative, Ms Obakeng Moremi said upon arrival in the village, they identified a number of challenges and came up with strategies to address them.

Such included substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, high numbers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and a dirty environment.

Substance abuse, STIs and teenage pregnancy are believed to be mostly common among Form Three pupils.

Ms Moremi said they engaged a Guidance and Counselling teacher to see how best to assist them.

She said they engaged in health talks with pupils in the abscence of teachers and that helped.

“Pupils spoke to us freely, some told us why they started using drugs and engaging in early sexual relations and we discussed the dangers.

We have arranged for some to continue with counselling at the clinic,” Ms Moremi said.

She said the newly introduced observation room would allow patients rest while being monitored by nurses or doctors.

“The observation room will give patients the privacy need during observation, these kind of rooms are mostly found in hospitals,” she stated, noting that they also introduced a suggestion box for efficacy and efficiency.

Ms Moremi said they engaged in education talks about the environment before the clean-up campaign for residents to understand the importance of keeping the village clean.

KSDACON lecturer, Ms Jester Banda thanked Kgosi Semana for allowing nursing students to do their practicals in the village.

She said the college had been working with the clinic for a long time and regarded it as part of its training components.

“Nurses’ jobs is to make sure that communities live healthy lives, hence the need to attach our students in different clinics and hospitals for them to experience working with different people and learn from them,” she said.

Ms Banda said the college management was proud of the contributions made by the students to improve lives.

“We thank all who made it possible for our students to successfully carry out their job here,” said Ms Banda.

Nurse in charge at Ranaka Clinic, Ms Constance Moamogwe said it was a privilege for the clinic to have been afforded the opportunity to attach student nurses because they added value to their establishment and that translated to great service to the community.

She described the students as hard working, determined and focused individuals.

“We thank them and their school. I can assure you that wherever they will be posted, lives will be positively changed,” said Ms Moamogwe. ENDS