Komani’s Own Florence Nightingale: Nurse Who Heals with Heart

With more than three decades working as a nurse in Komani, Komani Hero Althra Ignathia Winnaar (55) takes her love for nursing to the next level.

Formerly known as Komani’s Florence Nightingale, Winnaar does not only help Komani’s sick, but also goes an extra mile by organizing appointments to the hospital and even attending to them after hours.

She started working as a nurse in 1988, that is where her love for her job was born.

According to one of the people who benefited when her late child was sick with cancer, Winnaar is a gift from God.

Cheryl Boch said Winnaar has done a lot for her child.

“I used to call her every night and she would attend to us without even complaining. She is a real Florence Nightingale. She has been great with us and we hope God can bless her,” said Boch.

Boch said Winnaar has been helping everyone without choosing faces.

“She is committed, does her work for free, helps people whole heartedly and from the good of her heart. One day God will bless her,” said Boch.

Winnaar joined Frontier Hospital in Komani in 2006 where she does nursing care to people with long illnesses like cancer and also does palliative care for those the doctors had given up on them.

Speaking to Komani News, Winnaar said her last patient was bedridden for more than a year.

“I nursed her until the night she passed away. The bond I had with her was amazing,” she said.

She said you learn so much about the time you have on earth when you do my job.

“It is practically sitting and waiting for the person to die. I had a bond with her and I miss her even today. She has taught me a lot about endurance and perseverance,” said Winnaar.

Winnaar who is also known as Atta said part of her job is to help those community members who can’t afford medical aid.

According to Winnaar, what she does for the community is what she does for her own family.

“I arrange for appointments at the hospital and do follow ups on their progress. I also took my uncle who had prostate cancer and unfortunately he died last year at the age 77-years-old,” she said.

She said she also nursed her aunt in 2022 who was 82-years-old.

“God has given me this special gift of taking care after others and I am enjoying it. Since 1998, I am a new born Christian and God has changed my life.

All that I do for the people is my passion and I will keep on doing it as long as God has given me the strength to continue,” she said.

The mother of two, a grandmother of six and a great grandmother of one said one of the patients used to encourage her to carry on with what she did.

“It is not a nice picture to see a cancer patient in pain, but she kept on encouraging and inspiring me to continue to help others. In whatever I do I don’t ask for any payment, I don’t want anything from helping others,” she said.