Standerton‘s Andrew Chungwane believes nursing is a calling
“When looking at patients’ challenges, one realises it is not only a medical condition, but a social one as well.”
A professional nurse at Standerton TB Hospital, Mr Andrew Chungwane, has strong community-orientated convictions.
“Nursing is a calling because it is not easy to deal with a sick person,” Andrew said.
Andrew’s path to his career was established at Gem College where he obtained two diplomas, firstly in general nursing and secondly in midwifery.
The man from Bushbuckridge moved to Standerton in June 2007 and did his training at Standerton Hospital.
A previous stint at the SAVF in Ermelo contributed to developing his skills.
“I just saw Standerton on a map and did not know much about TB, but applied at the hospital,” he added.
“When looking at patients’ challenges, one realises it is not only a medical condition, but a social one as well.”
The medical picture worsens when patients are tested for HIV, not even mentioning poverty and lack of proper nutrition.
Mpumalanga at this stage has seen their TB-hospitals assigned to care for Covid-19 patients.
In Standerton, Barberton and Hazyview are a few of those facilities and Witbank Hospital still is operational for those people who have contracted tuberculosis.
Home visits in the district are done as well for assessment and treatment to be decided on.
“We also manage their social needs.”
He freely admitted that the onset of TB can occur at any age and with the advances in treatment from susceptible TB, to multi-drug resistant, to extreme-drug resistant, a nurse’s work is cut out.
Andrew met his wife, Nothula, at the hospital and they got married in 2016.
She is a nurse as well and the couple has two girls, Lihle and Andzani, aged 11 and 9 respectively.
The multi-lingual Andrew mostly speaks Zulu to his patients, mother being a Swazi and father a Tsonga.
Andrew still keeps fit after his midfield no 6 soccer experiences, the exercise machine at home now does the workout.
In his high-pressured working environment, another factor has to be taken into account.
“Not everyone wants to be in close contact with TB-patients,” he stated.
“We are doing our level best.”
