Retirement won’t stop nurse who loves to give
AS A RETIRED nurse, Balungile Dlamini, 75, should be enjoying her twilight years with her grandchildren and generally taking things easy.
But three times a week, for six hours a day, without fail, she attends to the health needs of disabled children at the Mason Lincoln
Special School in umlazi – free of charge.
When Dlamini retired 20 years ago, she also bought the school a fridge, TV and curtains with her pension payout.
Dlamini said the first time she visited the school as a volunteer, she realised that pupils were in dire need of health care services.
“The school did not have a nurse and cleaners at the time, the dormitory was filthy and pupils were unable to clean. I then asked my friends to help me clean the dormitory and we did this every Tuesday,” she said.
“However, the more I went to the school to clean, the more I noticed that pupils were not taking their medication correctly. Some mixed up medication, some were sick and there was no guidance from a healthcare practitioner. It was then that I decided to also offer my nursing services because I was available since I had retired,” said Dlamini.
KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo recently visited the school and promised to put measures in place for the department to attend to the needs of the children.
The school caters for 335 children who are physically challenged, visually impaired, autistic, intellectually impaired, epileptic and those living with albinism.
Dlamini, who is also from the area and has two daughters and two granddaughters, said she believes in helping those who are in need and she volunteers her services out of passion for health care.
“My duties at the school vary. Sometimes I examine pupils who have health conditions and I refer those who need medical attention to Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. I sort out their medication as prescribed by doctors and make sure they take it correctly. I also dress and bandage injuries,” she said.
Pupils refer to Dlamini as “Gogo” and they share a strong bond. She said she misses them when she is not at the school.
“I love children, even when I was working at Clairwood hospital in the paediatric ward, the kids loved me. It is the same thing here at the school, kids refer to me as their granny and we get along very well. I have committed myself to helping the school since year 2000 and I will do it until the school can afford to have its own nurse,” she said.
She might have retired as a nurse but her services are still required even by her neighbours in umlazi.
“People come to me to ask for health-related help and my door is always open. A nurse gets to see a person when they are born and at the time of their death; we are an important pillar of society,” said Dlamini.
The principal and staff of Mason Lincoln Special School said they were grateful to Dlamini and applauded her for her service and commitment.