Up Close … with member of National Assembly Clive Roucou |12 June 2018

 ‘I still get adrenalin rush whenever I hear an ambulance siren’

What can a registered nurse bring to the table of political debate in these challenging times?

That was a question asked by many when it was made official that Clive Roucou was the chosen candidate of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) for Plaisance for the 2016 parliamentary election.

A registered nurse since 1996 and a graduate student, with a clinical practice background in critical care and a passion for nursing, Mr Roucou said it is his nursing background that brings him closer to his constituents, while opening his eyes to matters affecting them the most.

A familiar face at the Emergency & Casualty Unit and at the Intensive Care Unit, Mr Roucou spent his last ten years in the medical field as a lecturer at the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS).

Now, other than being the elected member of the National Assembly for the Plaisance district, he also sits on the Assembly’s Committee on HIV/Aids and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Becoming a nurse

Now 43 years old and married, Mr Roucou -- a resident of Belvedere -- never dreamed of becoming a nurse.

The fourth in a family of six children, his initial interest was to be a veterinary physician due to his love for animals, a passion which he still holds.

He however joined nursing as it was a shorter path towards employment. A field he later learned to love along the way.

A career which brought him a Bachelor degree with advanced practice with the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

A career which also offered him other options to broaden his knowledge, including a teaching experience, which again was never on his mind.

He described nursing as a noble profession, which he said has moulded him into the man he is today. He said being a nurse brings trust from patients, while it helps you to develop the sense of dignity, kindness, respect and compassion.

Interest in politics

He began to feel the political interests in his late teenage days when according to him he realised that the country was not heading in the right direction.

He then sided with the Seychelles National Party (SNP) and became active in its activities, until he was asked by the party’s direction to be the representative for Plaisance, before being chosen as the candidate for LDS for the 2016 paliamentary election.

It was an easy decision, due to the situation at that time, to switch from the medical world to politics, but not an easy situation to digest, after spending 20 years in the field.

It was only through determination and courage that I managed to properly absorb the switch and be successful.

“I have always wanted to climb higher in the medical field, but it never happened as I felt that I was being targeted due to my political belief which I openly expressed,” noted Mr Roucou.

He added that he was being overtaken by junior staff, especially his past students who were less qualified and less experienced.

“I felt that something had to be done and as someone who was experiencing all those difficulties and malpractice, I felt that I was better placed to step up and deal with it, once and for all,” he added.

Health and politics

“Being in the health system, you don’t see the loopholes as you are busy trying your very best to help your patients recover, while by being outside, you get a better perspective on how the situation really is,” Mr Roucou commented.

He said his 20 years in the health system will help him to come up with better ideas on how to improve it, now that he has the voice and power to contribute.

This, he said, is why most of his questions as an MNA directly target the ministry responsible for health.

“The nursing and teaching background gives me the ability to listen to people to try and understand their issues, and this boosts my ability as an MNA,” he added.

This, he said, are crucial elements for survival in the political field.

He however noted that the medical field still occupies a great part of his soul.

Mr Roucou still visits the hospital on a regular basis to meet up with his ex-colleagues in every cadre of the job.

He also seizes any given opportunity to be involved in health-related forums, such as talks, workshops and other training programmes.

“I still get adrenalin rush whenever I hear an ambulance siren,” he added.

Regarding the possibility of getting back into the health profession if ever his political career ended prematurely, Mr Roucou has mixed feelings.

“I am not saying I will, and I am not saying I will not, but I will explore all the possible avenues available and I will cross that bridge when I get there,” he noted.

The community and changes

“I am a very friendly, open and caring person, and everyone who knows me can confirm that,” explained Mr Roucou.

Being a member of the National Assembly has not changed Mr Roucou much as an individual. However, he has been adapting to some new things which come along with the job, especially how he conducts himself in public, along with his behaviour as a whole, all in line with the principles of his working institution.

“At first, it was weird and a bit strange for me whenever a police officer or soldier saluted me,” he explained.

“But then I realised that it is the procedure and it is part of the job and status,” he further added.

Other than that, Mr Roucou said he is still the same.

As a member of the National Assembly, he adopts an open-door policy, where anyone can just walk in and see him, without any appointment.

“I always try to help whoever seeks for my help as much as I can,” he also noted.

 Precious moments and advice for the youth

Other than his graduation, Mr Roucou said his most precious moments in life will always be the recoveries of his former patients.

“Being an emergency specialist, I have resuscitated a lot of people and to see them back on their feet is the best satisfaction ever,” he added.

“Some people think that they will forever owe me for whatever I have done for them, but for me, it is not the case, as I was only doing my job,” he further added.

Seeing his former students graduate and pursue their career in the medical field also make Mr Roucou happy.

Despite the various challenges, Mr Roucou encourages younger people to join the medical and teaching fields, which he describes as noble vocations rather than jobs.

“The satisfaction that comes along with it is worth all the challenges,” he concluded.

By Roland Duval