Meet the Staff of Nyadire United Methodist Hospital

Joseph Ngwenya, Registered General Nurse/Midwife

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.

Joseph Ngwenya is in charge of the Nyadire United Methodist Hospital's busy operating theatre. Dr. Rao and Dr. Rupfutse depend upon him to manage all aspects of the small but hectic theatre: sterilizing the equipment, meticulously cleaning the floors and managing the nurses and technicians assigned to the theatre. In the event of an emergency it is up to Joseph to have the operating room primed to support an immediate operation.

Eager to continue to learn and develop his skills, Joseph will be traveling to Harare very soon to learn how to administer anesthesia. He looks forward to more fully participating in the surgical procedures that take place in the theatre.

Having worked in the surgical ward for many years, Joseph knows first hand the difficulty in acquiring drugs such as anesthetics. He remembers a time when there was no doctor on staff: A young man came into the hospital with a dislocated shoulder and Joseph had no choice but to reset the shoulder himself or let the man suffer. He is grateful to have both Drs. Rao and Rupfutse in attendance at NUMH at this time, so that he and the other nurses at NUMH do not have to make such tough decisions alone.

Originally from Hwange, Zimbabwe, Joseph came to Nyadire in 1987 for training. While taking classes at NUMH's school of nursing he met his wife Barbara, now a maternity nurse at the hospital. Today they have one son, Charles Owen, who is 13.

"The hospital provides good care to patients and we are able to live at the Mission. I am very lucky to be here. My whole life is built around the hospital."

Photo: Joseph Ngwenya (right), a registered nurse, is in charge of the busy operating theatre at Nyadire United Methodist Hospital. Soon he will travel to Harare to learn how to administer anesthesia. Photo by Amy Squires 2004.

Read another inspiring story about Nyadire United Methodist Hospital.