After nearly 40 years of helping people, a Retreat nurse is calling it a day.
Cheryl Adams, 59, started her career at Tygerberg Hospital in 1977 and has been a nurse at Peninsula Maternity, Valkenberg and Lentegeur hospitals, and in 1992 started working in school health.
Sister Adams gave a little tender loving care to every pupil she treated at schools in Mitchell’s Plain and later in Lavender Hill, Heathfield, Steenberg and Retreat.
Sister Adams has been part of the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) initiative since its inception almost 23 years ago.
The Western Cape Health Department set up HPS in 1995 and partnered with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to include it in the school curriculum where nursing staff are assigned to certain schools and make scheduled visits.
The initiative concentrates on curative services as well as preventative services to prevent illness and disease to create a healthy community.
Sister Adams, from Ottery, said it was an honour for her to work not only as a nurse but also to work with children from the communities she served.
“I have such a passion for children and it’s my belief that a child should always be happy. We as adults are the voice of the children and to keep them happy, safe and healthy,” she said.
Sister Adams is looking to travel with her newfound freedom and will be visiting her children who live abroad in Serbia and New Zealand and is looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild.
Staff at Levana Primary School gave Sister Adams a proper send-off last week with a party.
Patricia Bailey, longtime friend and HPS colleague, said Sister Adams will be missed by the staff and pupils.
“She is dedicated, hard- working and loves the
community. Sometimes they’re shooting in the area and she would say that she is covered in the full armour of God and still comes to do what she must
do at the school,” said Ms Bailey.
Sister Adams ended: “I will miss the pupils and people I have worked with and I want to thank those who worked with me and God for giving me the ability to do what I love”.
