Health ministry pays tribute to popular nurse leader May Malcouzane Passion, commitment and cathedral full of love |09 July 2022
May Malcouzane
Popular nurse leader May Malcouzane of English River health centre, was laid to rest on Wednesday July 6 after a short illness.
Minister Peggy Vidot, the management team of the Ministry of Health and numerous members of staff of the health ministry, especially seasoned nurses, were present to bid her farewell and support her grieving family.
“The fact that this cathedral is as full as it is today, is an indication of the recognition of the whole country for the remarkable work May Malcouzane has done and the extraordinary love she has shed around her during her life,” proclaimed Father David Alcindor as he presided over the funeral service.
Beloved and respected throughout her life, May Malcouzane started work as a nurse-trainee on January 20, 1975 long before Seychelles’ independence.
She earned her nursing license three years later in 1978 but continued her education and training to become a midwife in 1979. Thereafter, she completed eight weeks of communication training in Zambia in 1983, two months of fertility management training in Mauritius in 1987, a three-week counselling session in Malawi in 1992, and a four-week attachment to the Seychelles Child Development Study Programme in Rochester, United States.
Ms Malcouzane started to pursue a post basic training in community health nursing in September 1997 and gained her diploma in that specialty in September 1998. In August 2003, she was elevated to the position of a health coordinator.
“She has toured the whole country on leadership assignments, working for long periods on the inner islands, Anse Boileau, Port Glaud, Beolière, Mont Fleuri and Beau Vallon, before settling on the English River health centre in her own district facility,” says principal nursing officer for Community Health, Mirena Souris.
All agree that she was a self-driven professional and a natural motivator. Colleagues agree that she was a real mentor and an advocate who always prioritised serving the Ministry of Health over her own needs and those of her family. She did not have any trouble facing issues head-on and maintained a high degree of professionalism in the process.
“Throughout her career, she shone as a people’s person, always going the extra mile to make things better for every patient and everyone else she met. In her family life, she always organised social events to bring us all together,” recalled the testimony to honour her life.
“She viewed difficulties as chances to grow. She kept positive interpersonal ties with both her clients and her co-workers. She enjoyed high regard from all the people she served in the various districts. She was passionate about organising community-based health promotion events. She participated actively in the Seychelles Patient Association. Many healthcare professionals have been motivated by Ms May Malcouzane throughout her 47 years of service,” recalls her long-time colleague, friend and former head of nursing at the Ministry of Health, Bella Henderson.
At 65 years old May Malcouzane was the oldest nurse manager in service.
The Ministry of Health expresses profound condolences to her three children – Iris, Natasha and Julius –, her only remaining sister, Vania, and the rest of her family.
Press release from the Ministry of Health