A recent widow. A mother of five. And a full-time professor at the ITM nursing school. Balancing these life-work demands as a single mother is challenging even in the United States, and even more is required when living in Congo. Professor Helen Twanta must leave her children with family in Gemena, a 4-5 hour drive if the roads and bridges permit passage. Her wage is not enough to bring her family to live together in Karawa, but she is thankful for extended family to care for her kids and that her wages can pay for their food and schooling.
Helen Twanta
She makes all of these sacrifices to fulfill the dream inspired by her father: to care for the sick. Her father was a nurse, and she began observing and assisting him at just 12 years old. They got up early each morning to spend 3-4 hours treating people in their village before he commuted to his full-time job at the hospital. Even as a child she became passionate about medical care, and especially working with women who are pregnant or of child-bearing age. She now teaches midwifery, pediatrics, general clinical, and medical statistics. Just as her father inspired a passion for nursing in her, she is inspiring dozens of nursing students each year.
Medical school classroom
The next steps in her dream are to spend a final two years studying in Kinshasa and helping the school grow in size and access to the resources that will best equip her students to thrive as nurses. With two years of teaching behind her and big dreams for the future, how many nurses will one day close their eyes and silently thank Helen Twanta for inspiring them?
