Frere Hospital honours diligent staff members
International awards inspire CEO to recognise healcare excellence
Nkosazana Jwacu-Ningi was the biggest winner at Frere Hospital’s service awards on Friday night, bagging the CEO’s ambassador of healthcare services award.
The nursing sister was overwhelmed at the recognition for going beyond the call of duty with her visits to communities to educate them about diseases and check for diabetes and high blood pressure.
“I did not expect this but I am happy that people can see the good work I am doing.
“I strongly believe in primary prevention of all diseases,” Jwacu-Ningi said.
“I go to churches, schools and the community at large because our people do not come to the health facilities until they are really sick,” she said.
The ceremony, held at the Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London, saw 27 awards handed out to hardworking staffers.
The awards were last held in 2010.
The awards were inspired by the prestigious Dr Kwang Tae Kim Grand Merit Award from the International Hospital Federation (IHF) that the hospital won last month.
Hospital CEO Dr Rolene Wagner said it was important to recognise excellence.
“When we won the international award for quality improvement, it meant we needed to acknowledge our teams,” Wagner said.
“[We needed] to show them that we appreciate them, especially with the difficulties we have been experiencing in the past two years with the budget getting smaller, diseases changing and the patients still expecting and deserving quality services.
“Every section depends on the other, so everyone plays a part in making a success.
“This was to show them that we know that you [employees] are working under difficult circumstances.
“It was a difficult job for the judges to separate the bronze from the silvers and the silvers from the golds, as they are all doing a great job” she said.
Ede Tyopo, who has been the hospital’s store assistant for 10 years, bagged two awards – best general assistant of the year and most innovative employee of the year.
“I am so happy and grateful for this token of appreciation from the hospital,” Tyopo said.
Former finance deputy minister Mcebisi Jonas, the guest speaker, encouraged public servants to always attend patients with care and excellence.
The only male nurse finalist, Vuyisa Nyembezi, won a gold award for the best professional nurse.
The hospital attends to 1,600 patients on a daily basis and admits up to 46,000 patients annually, Wagner said.