By Sayuri Persotham
Judy Kirkwood’s motherly presence fills The Highlander on a Tuesday afternoon. A registered nurse, midwife, and the founder of Best Start Baby nonprofit, Kirkwood has dedicated her career to offering practical support for South African mothers and their children.
“I’ve always been a bit of an idealist and love connecting with people,” she explains. Kirkwood saw a need among the mothers of local communities and rose to the challenge. She focuses her maternal support on impoverished and under-resourced areas, equipping mothers with basic feeding skills and familial counselling, and raising awareness about other social issues.
Born and raised in East London, Kirkwood studied at the University of Cape Town’s Nursing and Midwifery division before going on to work at the Groote Schuur Hospital. It was within these walls that Kirkwood’s path was decided. Working an ordinary shift one evening, Kirkwood was in awe, brushing shoulders with President Nelson Mandela. As they shook hands, Kirkwood realised, “I, too, want to make a difference.”
After years of travelling and broadening her skillset in the UK, Europe, and Australia, Kirkwood settled into the South African nonprofit scene. “I have always known that I would share my knowledge with the people closest to my heart and home,” Kirkwood says.
Commenting on the lack of motherly support within the Eastern Cape’s health sector, Kirkwood attempts to fill the gap with her expertise. She says many hospitals are inundated with patients, and as a result, mothers are prematurely discharged. This lack of care took the nurse to various schools, clinics, and hospitals across the Eastern Cape region, namely Makhanda, East London, Kei Mouth, Transkei and the Morgan Bay area.
Kirkwood says each institution has different needs, and being on the ground, she is able to tailor her approaches to practical support and knowledge-sharing. Kirkwood also partnered with the One to One Children’s Fund, a community organisation operating in the rural Eastern Cape. As an experienced professional, Kirkwood trained the initiative’s Mentor Mothers to administer in-home healthcare safely.
Kirkwood’s contributions are evident through the voices of Makhanda’s mothers. One mother, Sharlom Nyazenga, praises Kirkwood’s continuous support while her son Leroy Ziki received respiratory assistance at Settlers Hospital. Kirkwood recounts the most rewarding part of her vocation: “We were able to reconnect with a healthy, happy baby in our arms.”
The nurse often visits Makhanda, providing education and training sessions for new mothers in the maternity ward of Settlers’ Hospital. She incorporates social media into her approach of ongoing support and maintains contact with the mothers she has assisted.
Through Best Start Baby Kirkwood aims to amplify the voices and needs of South Africa’s underserved communities. She details the hardships of this process and the odds of increasing country-wide maternal healthcare against the obstacles of limited funding and resources. Despite these challenges, Kirkwood remains steadfast: “The legacy I wish to leave behind is one of empowerment, compassion, and transformation. I envision a future where no parent feels alone.”
