Meet the new CEO of Themba Hospital

Matsinhe has worked with multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, researchers and scientists in supporting the development and implementation of HIV prevention, care and treatment protocols in South Africa through her participation at different levels of policy development and formulation.

She is a trained professional nurse who has served both the public and private sector as a clinician and manager since 2003.

“My strongest point is the ability to develop and nurture networks as well as my passion for scaling up responsive health programmes. I provide motivational, relevant and engaging talks on issues related to HIV/Aids, women’s health, leadership, governance, workplace health and wellness, social issues including stigma as well as the new reality of health in the face of a global pandemic, currently being the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

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Her career highlights include being selected for an exchange programme to Sweden in 2002. A few years later she was nominated to receive an honorary doctorate for her teaching and education passion in community health.

Matsinhe was one of the participants of the prestigious University of Pretoria Fellows Leadership Development Programme in 2016. She said the method for one to achieve their dreams is simple: never stop dreaming big.

“Study, research, network, work hard, sacrifice, take risks and be realistic and honest with yourself. Being good and talented is not enough. Timing is always key Thobile Mlangeni Dr Thembisile Matsinhe. for you to make that move,” she said.

Asked her feelings about being at the helm of Themba Hospital, she said, “Well, it is a hot seat, but I would not trade this opportunity and the exposure I’m getting for anything in the world.

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I have had my fair share of bedside nursing, which was fulfilling. I was a programme manager in the Usaid-funded NGO, I served as a middle manager in the provincial oversight office in the Office of the Premier and the latest for me was being a middle manager in the Department of Health, manning the stakeholders coordination and management portfolio.

All those positions were preparing me for where I currently am. All the experience I acquired overs the years is coming in handy in my current role. I deal with a defined environment and all stakeholders are immediate and key.

These include my team at the executive level, all staff members, our patients and their entire community in the area as we are a regional hospital,” she said. Matsinhe’s objectives include to reposition the hospital back to its winning state, to revive its education role by having outreach activities in the surrounding health facilities and community by its team of health specialists, and to regain the hospital’s dignity and trust from the community. Asked about her expectations, she said,

“To engage more openly and amicably, not to resort to toyi-toyiing and destructive behaviour which may result in unnecessary tension and animosity causing further delay in the progress of the institution and community at large.”

Matsinhe had a message for women: “Be that risk-taker, against the tide, sometimes your own family.

Remember, it’s a legacy matter, the focus is on the future, that you wish so hard that it doesn’t judge you harshly because of the actions not taken out of the fear of the unknown. Be wise, never lose focus nor move your eyes from the prize, but be as dynamic and diverse as possible.

There is no place for rigidity. You need to reinvent yourself and stay relevant yet in your own lane.”