MATRON SHIRLEY MAHUNG

Elizabeth Pridgeon

American Senator Bill Bradley is famously quoted as saying “ambition is the path to success; persistence is the vehicle you arrive in”.  This week’s nation builder, Matron Mahung, portrays both qualities – ambition and persistence – with many more complementing characteristics besides.

From her earliest memories, Matron Mahung has always aspired to being a nurse, even though none of her immediate family was involved in the profession.  This was a driving force behind her determination during her schooling years in Belize City, at Wesley Primary School and later at Wesley College where she obtained her high school diploma and G.C.Es in History and English.

In 1971, Ms. Shirley enrolled in the School of Nursing, and later complemented it with a midwifery course in 1975, both of which were based in the Belize City Hospital.  After her training she married Mr. Mahung and moved to his home town of Punta Gorda without delay.  And so began her long-term career at Punta Gorda Hospital.  She began as a staff nurse, and was almost immediately promoted to the position of Ward Sister in 1976.  A decade later, she was again promoted to Departmental Sister, and in 1991, she was honoured with the title of Matron III (the sole Matron for the entire Toledo District).  By 1997, Matron Mahung became Officer in Charge of the Health Service for the Toledo District, during which time she was responsible for multiple duties, including organising the nursing sector, promoting rural health projects and overseeing the staffing and management of the Punta Gorda hospital and various regional health clinics.

Her hard work and dedication to the nursing profession has been recognised on multiple occasions, including in 1998 when she was the recipient of the Award for Meritorious Service to Nursing.  In an address given by a long-term colleague, she was recognised as being someone who adheres to the philosophy of always doing the best you possible can – the fact that she expects “no less from those under her administration” has made her a force to contend with, and has created some opposition along the way from less altruistic personnel, but nothing could stop Matron Mahung’s determination and dedication.  She has never let her high standards slip, which is perhaps why during her time in the nursing profession, the hospital was run efficiently and effectively, offering quality health care to all who seek it (which is more than can be said today).

However busy her nursing duties kept her Matron Mahung also found time to participate in numerous social events and acted on various advisory boards and committees.  One such involvement was in the planning of the royal visit by H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II in 1994, where she was one of a selected group of citizens chosen to greet the Queen at the Punta Gorda airstrip upon her arrival.

She was also a member of the September Celebrations Committee for numerous years, assisting with the preparations to ensure that all Toledo residents could unite and enjoy the anniversary of Belizean Independence each year.  Despite these other commitments, she assisted the Toledo Red Cross for almost four decades, first as a nursing superintendent and later as Chairperson.  Simultaneously, she also joined Help Age Toledo to promote the care and welfare of the region’s elderly, and since 2001 she has dedicated herself voluntarily to HOPE, a newer organisation which also focuses on supporting the elderly.  All of these roles complimented her responsibility as a Member of the District Social Assistance Committee during the 1990s, where she would nominate health, educational and social programs to benefit from governmental funding programs.

It was for all her contributions to Belizean society – most particularly her nursing role –  which saw the bequest of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Matron Mahung in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 1998, one of the greatest honours anyone can receive for lifelong service and achievement.

And even since her public retirement in 2003, Matron Mahung continues to contribute to Punta Gorda society (and subsequently, to Belizean society as a whole).  Currently, she is self-employed from her own premises on #11 Corner North and Main Street in Punta Gorda town, continuing to serve her community as best she can.

Throughout her life, Matron Mahung has given back to society to the best of her capabilities, even though at times the pressures of raising a family and fulfilling her nursing duties were complicated through the poor infrastructure and facilities of southern Belize.  She remembers countless times when the district doctor could not be contacted, and she was required to make executive decisions for critically ill or injured patients in the hospital.  According to Matron Mahung, there is no better reward than treating a potentially-life threatening condition and transforming someone’s suffering into recovery, watching them walk out of the hospital in far better condition than when they arrived (be it by car, horse, truck or wheelbarrow!).

Matron Mahung – almost singlehandedly at times – ensured that Toledo residents had access to quality health service and care, and striving to create a healthy citizenry is one of the premier nation building qualities.  Even now, Matron Mahung still has ambition and persistence, and claims that if ever she were to secure the finances for the purpose, she would wish to build a care home for the elderly of the region, to ensure that aging Belizeans who do not have a sufficient support network could still receive care and attention during their final years instead of ‘punishing’ alone, as she sees happen all too often.

Matron Mahung is an inspiration – to mothers seeking to juggle a career with family commitments; to health care workers striving for a promotion within the profession; and to all Belizeans who wish to achieve their ambitions and realise their potential.  Matron Mahung can be credited with all these achievements, and more, during her life-long service as a Belizean Nation Builder.

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