Quote:THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH recently held a night of awards to honour, among others, South African nurses who in the early 1960s volunteered to work in the newly-independent Tanzania.The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), led by Julius Kambarange Mwalimu Nyerere, asked the ANC to invite South African nurses to take up the cause of African solidarity and work in the newly-independent Republic of Tanganyika (now known as Tanzania). Twenty nurses answered this call, among them some of South Africa's most talented practitioners.
Going down memory lane and recapturing the spirit of volunteerism that imbued these nurses, a member of this pioneering group wrote:
"The year is 1961. The East African colony of Tanganyika is about to become an independent state. The British colonial authorities are decamping fast. Among those making their way back to the heart of the empire are much-needed nurses. In South Africa, the African National Congress, despite its recent banning, gets a call for help from TANU. Could a few nurses be recruited to help out the soon to be 'Republic of Tanganyika'?
"In the face of relentless government oppression, the ANC swings into action. Albertina Sisulu recruits volunteers from Johannesburg. Mduduzi John Mbele and John Makhathini organise in Durban. Govan Mbeki enrols volunteers from around Port Elizabeth.
"Within a few weeks, 20 young nurses are ready to rally to the call of Africa's newest nation. In the Eastern Cape, five nurses leave Port Elizabeth by train. They arrive at Park Station [in Johannesburg] the following day. They are met by the young Thabo Mbeki. They walk from the station to Macosa House.
"From there they pile into Duma Nokwe's car and head for Ahmed Kathrada's house. The volunteers from Johannesburg arrive at 9.30pm. Inexplicably, the Durban group is nowhere to be seen.
"It is too dangerous to wait. The security police are vigilant, suspicious, omnipresent. The groups from Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth make their way onto a bus. They are accompanied by Tom Nkobi and a young white man posing as a Pastor. If stopped, their 'cover story' will be that they are on their way to a Church Congress in what was then the protectorate of Bechuanaland.
"They are stopped at a roadblock in Zeerust. Luck is on their side: it has been a long, hot day, and the police have clearly been drinking. The travellers are waved through. By dawn, they reach the border.
"Alarmingly, their 'pick up', a Mr Fish, does not appear. The bus driver is edgy. He tries to hide the bus behind a bush. Fortunately, Ntate Chomme comes to their rescue, allowing them to hide at his house. To their great relief, the missing Durban group finally catches up with the party.
"Together for the first time, the intrepid volunteers cross the border into Lobatse. There they hide, enduring some harassment from the colonial police, until the word comes: they are to move to Dar es Salaam, via Francistown.
"In Francistown, they wait patiently for the plane to take them to Dar es Salaam. It arrives, carrying the Chief Nursing Officer of Tanganyika, and JJ Radebe, the ANC representative. The plane takes off. It refuels at Salisbury and Mbeya. Finally it touches down in Dar.
"The reception at the airport is spectacular. Present to meet them are OR Tambo, Crower Radebe, the Minister of Health, and many in the South African exile community.
"The 20 nurses begin settling into the Tanzanian capital. But they have not come as holidaymakers. They have come to serve. By January 1962, they are deployed to hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Tanga, Mwanza, Bukoba and Kibingoto.
"Behind them lie families, careers and the familiarities of home. But in a sense they have come home: home to an Africa that is free to determine its own future, free to nurse its own way to a better tomorrow."
Today, as the land of their birth prepares to celebrate the first decade of its own freedom, the selflessness, the sense of duty of these young volunteers, is not forgotten. We salute all the nurses who received the Veteran Nursing Award. They are: Victoria Magodla-Harling, Hilda Fongqo, Edith Ncwana-Madenge, Celia Khuzwayo, Mary-Jane Socenywa, Mary Mwandla, Tana Msimang, Edith Tunyiswa, Edna Miya, Neo Raditladi, Mmoni Segatlhe, Koleka Tunyiswa-Shabaan, Sinnah Jali, Ncinci Nzimande and Nosipo Molomo.
Like the twenty nurses who went to Tanzania, we have taken a bold initiative and declared this century an African century. This is a conscious effort by us to chart and determine Africa's destiny. Emboldened by the victories of the 20 volunteer nurses and the struggles of all the other activists that came before us, we are confident that our dream will be realised.
Another lesson imparted by this selfless gesture is that there is enough reward in serving other people. It is this philosophy that guides us as we pursue the dream of an Africa free of diseases, poverty and inequity. The contribution of these 20 nurses to the continent's struggle for democracy and better health care is a forerunner to the present day movement for a New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).