FLORENCE

Before coming to Nairobi I was working in a missionary hospital in a village. I liked it there, I liked the life of the village, the calm, the green environment. People there have the time for each other. I moved because of my work: it is my passion, I like to be on duty and to help the others.
When I was young and I was a girl guide, I used to go to the local hospital in my village and volunteer. This is when I decided to become a nurse.
Now I am 43 years old, mother of two and I work in a big public hospital. Here I can learn even more and help even more people. I am the chief nurse and as such I am in charge of the procedures. I also guide and assist the young nurses, make plasters, work in the theatre, assist the surgeons. I work often with doctor Morino and doctor Njogu, I also assist doctor Melotto when he comes twice a year for his missions of orthopaedic surgery. I have been working with them so often that now in the theatre we call instruments with their Italian name!
Sometimes I am called by the team of Education for Life to teach in the school of the slums about health education and the risks the youth face. I teach to students, teachers and parents. I talk about HIV/AIDS, prevention of diseases, first aid skills, nutrition.
I do what I love to do and this is my greatest achievement.

Florence Chege Njoki
Theatre nurse