D Merle Foster

Lahlekile D Merle Foster

Description

An authentic account of the experiences that have shaped the history of black nursing in the South African health service during the violent eras of colonialism and apartheid. Lahlekile is largely an oral history which reflects the South African nursing struggle across a hundred years as experienced by black health workers of all ethnicities. Trends in the period are provided at the end of three chapters while the fourth (and last), takes the reader to the cutting edge of the century. The term Lahlekile in Xhosa means 'lost' while in Zulu it has the connotation of being 'thrown away'.

About the Author

Doreen Foster was born in Western Cape, and now lives in East London. She has a BA degree in Nursing Science and has previously had work published in a South African Women's anthology entitled 'Hot as Fire'. She has worked for the post-apartheid government in South Africa with the office of the National Minister of Health and after two years became a coordinator for the transformation process in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. At present, Doreen is a Gender trainer and animator for the 'MASIMANYANE' Women's Support Centre. She has also completed her first historical novel 'Unshackled', which is yet to be published, and is involved in another book project entitled 'Urban Stew'.