The Talismanus clinic’ saving grace

When Kenya Nurse Emmanuel Yama heard that he will be posted to Tallismanus – a remote village in the Omaheke Region, he thought we will not fit in. Today he speaks Otjiherero fluently and even has an Otjiherero name.

Emmanuel Yama, a registered nurse, was born in Mombasa, Kenya some 35 years ago. He now works at the Tallismanus Clinic in the Omaheke region, some 430 kilometres from Windhoek, since end of 2007.

Growing up, Emmanuel was passionate about Agriculture, but his father, who died last year, convinced him otherwise.

In 1995, Emmanuel lost his elder brother – a Physiotherapist, in a tragic car accident. His father’s advice to venture into medicine soon became a reality, and Emmanuel chose nursing.

“When my brother passed on, my father insisted that someone should go in the medical field and so I did. I studied nursing for four years in Kenya before being sent to Namibia, Tallismanus for my first placement,” he says.

Spending only a few minutes at the clinic, it is clear that Emmanuel stole the hearts of many - both old and young. He share jokes with everyone, and the children appear even more comfortable around him during examination, playing with his red stethoscope.

“I love working with the people here, my father use to preach to me about the phrase ‘what you sow you will reap’ now I am witnessing it. I often don’t go for lunch, but I don’t mind,” Emmanuel notes.

Emmanuel, whose biblical name means ‘God is with us’ now has an Otjiherero name – Ujama, which means ‘He saves’ or simply ‘savior’. Besides that, Emmanuel is also fully conversant in Otjiherero - a language in less than three years of working at Tallismanus.

The Kenyan nurse says when he first came to Tallismanus, he thought it would be difficult to fit in, or even get along with the locals.

“When I first came here I met an elder nurse I had been assisting and later replaced. Her name is Theo Ndisiro, and she immediately made me feel at home,” he says.

Patients that have been treated by Emmanuel only have praise and appreciation for the young Kenyan nurse, who they regard as being a God-sent to them.

“We really thank God for sending us this child. For that, we decided to name him Ujama. At least now Ujama will sit with us to find out what the problem is and if he is not happy, he will make time when he is free to do house calls.

“That is why as a community, we are really happy he is here,” says the 78 year old Orba Kazondunge.

Another patient, Katjivazewa Kangootui (68), expressed the same sentiments, noting that he is indebted to Emmanuel for saving his life.

“I was at a remote village some 30 kilometers from Tallismanus, when I encountered a shortness of breath. I was rushed to the clinic where we had to wake Ujama up and he saved my life. I will never forget that,” he says.

As the only nurse in a radius of 250km, Emmanuel is responsible for 90 villages around Tallismanus.

“I do not really feel the pressure, because people appreciate what I am doing. The founding father Dr. Sam Nuyoma, and the Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua had applauded me for the work I do here,” he proudly says.

Emmanuel says he has written to the line Ministry to have the clinic upgraded to a health care center, which would allow for an even better treatment of patients requiring urgent medical attention.

click to enlarge FEELING BETTER: Orba Kazondunge seems to feel better by only chatting to Emmanuel, whom she describes as her saving grace	click to enlarge TALLISMANUS CLINIC : The Kenyan nurse has written to the Minister of Health and Social Services to have the clinic upgraded to a health centre	click to enlarge OUR SAVIOR : Emmanuel Yama was given an Otjiherero name ‘Ujama’	click to enlarge Emmanuel is responsible for all 90 Villagers in the Tallismanus area
click to enlarge CHECK UP: Emmanuel tests patient Katjivazewa Kangootui’ sugar level