A more deserving candidate for the Woman of the Year prize would be hard to find. This achievement was recently bestowed on Linda Nghatsane by Shoprite Checkers/SABC2’s competition by the same name.
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Before we tell her story, we would also like to acknowledge all those invisible winners - those women whose efforts make all the difference in our society, but who never get the recognition they deserve. But back to Linda Nghatshane.
This public health activist dedicated her life to educating others to overcome health challenges brought on by poverty. We share her inspirational story:
Linda Nghatsane (49) is no ordinary woman. In only three years, this health-worker-turned-farmer transformed an overgrown Lowveld field into a thriving farm with an annual turnover of about R2 million.
She didn’t do this in an effort to enrich herself, but to uplift and inspire surrounding rural communities by combining health promotion and agriculture – not only through teaching, but by being a sterling example of that which she preaches. “I wanted to make a difference, even just in a small way, so I bought the farm,” she told Health24.
Who is Linda Nghatsane?
Linda was born in the Limpopo province in the late 1950s and grew up in a village called Nkowankowa near the town of Tzaneen. From an early age, she had a nurturing nature and she acquired various diplomas in nursing and midwifery and started her career at the Nkensani hospital in the Limpopo province.
Her passion for public health soon led to bigger things. In 1987, she went to the United Kingdom (UK) where she got involved in community development projects, focusing mainly on nutrition.
Her next stop was Mozambique, where she worked on community education projects, compiling educational material mainly aimed at mothers – the main caregivers in the home. Her efforts reached 19 educators, 1 600 volunteers and 16 000 families between 1994 and 1999.
During this time the idea of having her own farm, where she could grow food, and also teach rural woman about intervention and treatment of malnutrition by growing their own food, started to take shape. But she had one more stop before her dream could be realised.
With the aid of various American organisations she did community educational projects in 11 African countries from 2000 to 2004. Spells of malaria and even civil unrest in countries such as Angola and Rwanda did not deter her from her task of teaching health, hygiene and sanitation to African communities. “Those four years were very challenging,” she said in a previous report.
Practise what you preach
Through her vast working experience she became increasingly aware of the challenges of malnutrition, especially among children. “So I combined the strategies I learnt in other countries, and taught them to local women,” Linda says.
“The women I taught constantly challenged me, saying they didn’t have money or employment, so they couldn’t implement the things I taught them.”
She felt compelled to put her own teachings to the test and in March 2004 she bought 10 acres of the farm De Hoop in the Crocodile River Mountain conservancy near Nelspruit.
The farm was overgrown with Lowveld vegetation and most of the bush clearing had to be done by hand. There was no infrastructure on the farm – no house, electricity or water and not even a road leading to the piece of land which she has since turned into a flourishing farm.
But it all started out small. Linda and her husband, Johnson, initially planted spinach in bags filled with compost, and watered it with empty cooldrink bottles. The project soon expanded and today she is rearing broiler chickens (25 000 of them) and producing oyster mushrooms, strawberries and a variety of vegetables.
Farming aimed at improved nutrition
The fruits and vegetables she produces were specifically selected for their high nutritional value. “I encourage women to grow dark green vegetables – spinach and green beans, for example – because these are very nutritious,” Linda says.
Oyster mushrooms have a relatively high protein content of 15% to 25%. “They’re really tasty too. And easy to grow,” Linda says. Spinach and orange potatoes, which she also produces, are both great sources of vitamin A. This vitamin promotes growth in children and wards off infection.
Apart from being a busy farmer, Linda still takes time to give something back to the community. “I teach rural women to prevent and treat malnutrition by using produce that are available to them,” she explains.
People from rural communities often can’t afford meat products and have to substitute meat with beans to ensure sufficient protein intake.
A meal plan for rural communities
Linda developed a “three-colour meal”, which is based on the concept of the six food groups (which includes protein, grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy, and fats/oils).
As rural populations don’t have access to all the same products as urban dwellers, she took the six-food-group concept and derived a meal plan consisting of the products available to rural people that would supply them with all the essential nutrients.
Linda’s three-colour meal works like this:
white represents carbohydrates such as cooked porridge (“pap”);
brown represents protein, for example beans; and
green or orange represents fruit and vegetables.
Nutrition is key
Although Linda is also involved in other spheres of public health, such as HIV/Aids, nutrition continues to be her main focus.
“Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of HIV, cancer and other diseases. Producing your own food also helps with the care of orphans and vulnerable children,” she says.
Her message for all South African women
“Perseverance,” says Linda, when asked about the key to her success. “Women play a big role in reshaping the future of this country. They shouldn’t lose hope, because they have to instil hope in future generations,” she said. – (Wilma Stassen, Health24)
(Source: Die Burger – Die wilskrag van ‘n vrou – Hugo Loubser 31/07/2007)
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