Cancer campaigner is Nurse of the Year

A Nakuru nurse has been crowned the 2013 Nurse of the Year.

Ms Sarah Mbote, 51, works at the Nakuru Provincial Hospital, and was crowned winner at the 27th Annual Scientific Conference organized by the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association at the Bishop Stam Pastoral Centre in Kakamega.

The mother of three who has worked as a nurse for the last 28 years, said she had not expected to win the award that comes with a certificate, a badge and Sh100,000.

After the Kakamega County executive for Health Ms Elsie Muhanda opened the envelope containing the name of the winner, the tense atmosphere in the packed hall erupted into ululation as the ecstatic nurses rushed to the main dais to congratulate their lucky colleague.

HAPPY AFTER EMERGING WINNER

Ms Mbote who works in the Maternal Child healthcare/Family planning section could not hold back her joy after clinching the hotly contested award among the nursing fraternity.

Her frenzied colleagues described Ms Mbote as a sociable person who was open to ideas from those she worked with. They said Ms Mbote stood out as an energetic team player who focused on her work.

She said the award had motivated her in a big way to carry on with her campaign to reach out to cervical cancer patients languishing without support in rural villages.

She beat six other contestants from Nyanza, Central, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast region to bag the coveted annual award.

Organisers of the annual award said the Western region had not picked any contestant to feature in the competition for the top award this year.

Smiling broadly, Ms Mbote said she devoted the award to her colleagues who made sacrifices to help the sick and save lives.

“I feel so energized in my campaign targeting cervical cancer patients who live in rural villages where they have nobody to turn to for help or support,” said Ms Mbote.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Her eldest son, 27, is civil engineer, while her daughter, 25, is a banker. Her last born son, 23, has completed a diploma course in Information Technology.

Ms Mbote said her husband, a secondary school teacher, has been supportive of her work and has always encouraged her to offer her best to the community in which she lives.

“The encouragement from my family lit the passion in me and has kept me going for 28 years,” she said.

She said five years ago, she met a patient suffering with vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), a condition that causes a continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vagina due to an abnormal fistula tract between the bladder and the vagina and was touched by her predicament.

“When she came to me, she looked miserable and had given up hope in life about her condition, but I reassured her that the condition was treatable and she could lead a normal life again,” said Ms Mbote.

She said she helped the patient receive treatment at the Nakuru Provincial Hospital and today she lives a normal life.

“Her recovery from the debasing condition inspired me to go out and meet other patients who have been suffering in silence and yet could get help and care next door,” said Ms Mbote.

But it’s not all work for Ms Mbote who spends time tending her vegetable garden when she is not seeing patients. Working on the garden is a refreshing pastime that helps her unwind the long working hours.

Often, Ms Mbote will retreat to quiet place at home and read magazines. She said of her children’s profession: “I’m happy each of them has chosen to do what is close to their hearts...”