"I never forget where I come from," says Irene Solomon, senior service manager at Settlers Public Hospital. Sitting in her office, Solomon is surrounded by a dozen framed photos of her family.
"I never forget where I come from," says Irene Solomon, senior service manager at Settlers Public Hospital. Sitting in her office, Solomon is surrounded by a dozen framed photos of her family.
"I grew up in Fingo Village," she continues. "The elders inculcated a culture of caring. You cared for your neighbour and what you had you shared." She recalls her matric maths teacher at Mary Waters saying, "Never forget that you need to remember your community and if you get a chance to give back, you must."
In over 30 years at Settlers Hospital, 18 of which as senior nursing service manager, Solomon has never questioned her teacher’s advice. "She is a friendly, helpful person," says ARV coordinator Sharon Bloem. "She is a community person."
"I grew up in a family of nine. We were very close-knit," she says fondly. "But my dear," she adds, pausing dramatically, "we were disciplined. I grew up a Roman Catholic. We sang and prayed in Latin and went to church three times a day." The memory makes her laughs but she soon regains her composure.
Solomon may no longer go to church three times a day but she is as disciplined as ever. "She’s strict but in a kind way," says Antoinette Cannon, senior administration officer at the hospital. "She follows through and is very dependable. If you want something done, you know it’ll be done. She’s one of those people."
Dependability is important to Solomon. "Even if you don’t like to do something, it’s a matter of principle that you do it," she says firmly, emotionless. "If you start something, you must finish it."
Ten years ago Solomon started a project she refused to abandon, despite feeling disillusioned at times. "There’s so much red tape in what we’re doing," she explains, shaking her head. "But I just couldn’t leave without seeing the project through. I couldn’t let the people around me down."
Solomon’s project recently opened. "Listen here my child," she says, looking out the window at Settlers new private wing, "it is wonderful. Looking at the project initially, I really did not think it’d be such a transformation of the hospital. I’m really proud and I’m so pleased to be part of it."
Solomon takes a while to think about her fondest memory at Settlers. Ït’s really the people in this place. You become like one family," she says eventually. "A lot of people have added value to my life as a person but also to the work I’ve been doing. Looking back, I’m grateful for where I’ve come from," she reminisces, a single tear running down her cheek.
