Meet the Staff of Nyadire United Methodist Hospital

Abigail Pfunde, Head Tutor, Nyadire Hospital School of Nursing

Posted: March 21, 2005

Small map of Africa showing location of Zimbabwe and UM Cross and Flame. Deep within the rural landscape of Zimbabwe, Nyadire United Methodist Hospital strives to deliver quality health care services despite severely limited resources. The staff attribute their strength and perseverence to their faith in God, which helps them provide patients with love, compassion, and wonderful care.

While not a native of Nyadire, Abigail Kapfunde, the Head Tutor of the Nyadire School of Nursing, will be the first to tell you that the mission station is her home. "I belong to this place." Before being asked to manage the school, Abigail was a nurse in the maternity ward at Nyadire United Methodist Hospital.

Abigail's job as Head Tutor is to train her students to be the most skillful, diligent and caring nurses possible. This is a very important task since there has been a flood of medical personnel leaving Zimbabwe in recent years, seeking a better life in countries like the UK. Working with her colleague, Mr. Dzemwa, a typical day for Abigail consists of preparing lectures, grading papers and sorting through stacks of applications of interested students. Currently 80 students, representing all regions of Zimbabwe, are registered at the school.

The Nyadire School of Nursing boasts a reputation for training some of the best nurses in Zimbabwe, despite the lack of money, supplies and space. Supplies such as textbooks, paper and pens are very limited. Abigail also longs for a photocopier and computers for the school. Currently there are not enough dorm rooms to accommodate all of the students. Nor do the students, who arrive at the school with little or no belongings, always have enough food to eat.

Like many American women, Abigail struggles to balance family and work life. She is the proud mother of Diana, 12, Tyrone, 10 and Simba, 3. She and her husband, Tendai, a teacher at the local secondary school, work to ensure a good life for their children. Attaining a good education for her children is what motivates Abigail to work so hard. As with her nursing students, Abigail knows that without an adequate education, her sons and Diana will not succeed.

Photo: Each day, Abigail Pfunde, Head Tutor for Nyadire United Methodist Hospital's School of Nursing works hard to educate her young nursing students. Eighty students, representing all regions of Zimbabwe, are registered at the school. Photo by Shannon Trilli 2004.

Read another inspiring story about Nyadire United Methodist Hospital.