Nurses

Amira Khan, 27 years old

When I studied, it was a struggle, because I lived in a dangerous place, so that travelling early morning and late night was a nightmare. End of 2019, I finally bought my first car. Now I drive safely to work, where the danger awaits me every day.

Lisbet Maartens, 58 years old

I did not think I would have to die for the job and that is a real possibility. I miss my colleagues, last year this time we made diet plans while we shared Christmas leftovers.

Thulani Adams, 39 years old

You won’t believe me now, I started as a porter. I just finished school. I still remember how my granny said, you can move up in a hospital, but she died before
I finished studying. She would now be the first one to say, “Jirrie no, quit that job, we’re used to struggling.”

Marie Jacobs, 47 years old

I got a casual job at the nursing home. One of the older nurses there helped me. I did a care worker course first, then finally nursing. That nurse, was my nurse-mother, all the new nurses know that, that old hand that takes you and teaches the things you cannot study.

She was one of the first to die of Covid.