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Community support centre started by most caring nurse in SA

───   NOMAQHAWE MTEBELE 11:08 Fri, 22 Dec 2017

Community support centre started by most caring nurse in SA | News Article
Angelina Vermeulen, second from the left

“The intention is to take nursing from the hospital to the community for continued care.”


This was said by Angelina Vermeulen, who was awarded as the most caring nurse in South Africa, by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) this week. 

The 56-year-old opened her own support centre in Bloemfontein for patients with no access to healthcare after they’re discharged from hospital. Funded solely by Vermeulen, Itekeng Support Group 24/7 Care Centre provides care at the centre as well as during house visits. Vermeulen stays at the centre as she is currently the only professional nurse at the facility. Vermeulen said that the cash prize of R10 000 will help to build more rooms at the centre.

According to Vermeulen, most of her patients did not have a place where they could be taken care of after they were discharged from hospital. “The reasons for this are either that their family members worked in order to take care of the patient or they were unskilful and without knowledge to care for the patient,” she explained.

The Marilyn Lahana Caring Awards were hosted by Denosa in Pretoria on Monday. The criteria included outstanding selflessness and dedication to the care of patients. Vermeulen received a cash prize of R10 000 and a laptop. Engela Smit from Vosburg Community Health Centre (CHC) in Northern Cape was the runner-up and Dorothy Mamabolo-Loti of Soweto was 2nd runner-up.

Vermeulen said seeing the smiles of patients that she has helped is what motivates her the most. “Secondly, changing someone’s life for the better, that is what motivates me,” she continued.

Itekeng Support Group 24/7 Care Centre was established in 2001 by Vermeulen, who has been a nurse for more than 30 years. She worked at Pelonomi Hospital before resigning to concentrate on the centre.


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