153 years on: Sheila – a remarkable Fiji nurse

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Somwati Sheila Nandan. Picture: FT FILE

A remarkaly active woman, Somwati Sheila Nandan, successfully combined an 18-year nursing career with a zealous dedication to community service and welfare organisations.

Sheila came from an erudite family and her nursing career was recorded in The Fiji Times on December 15, 1975.

“My father Buta Ram Sabharwal was from Lahore, Punjab, who joined the civil service as a court clerk interpreter.” she said.

Her mother was equally educated and showed keen interest in the community.

Sheila had inherited much from her mother who instilled in her the desire to help those less fortunate and respect everyone’s religion and culture. Born in Labasa, she attended Jasper Williams High and St Thomas High School in Lautoka.

She was among the first Indian girls to go to New Zealand for nursing training.

“Actually my mother had the vision of me becoming a lady doctor.

“Unfortunately illness interrupted my studies.” She obtained a certificate for general nursing and maternity from Tauranga Hospital, a certificate in midwifery from St Helen’s Hospital Invercargill.

“With these certificates I could work anywhere in the world.”

To gain experience, Sheila remained in New Zealand for two years on the staff of Middlemore and Old National Women’s hospitals.

During her training in New Zealand she took part in social activities with the Country Women’s Institute in Tauranga, Napier.

She recollected the life of hard work under strict rules and regulations shortages of staff and no public holidays.

When in charge of the dental clinic in 1968, Sheila donated a trophy for the best all round hygienist.

She married Shiu Pal Nan Dan, another supporter of community service, in 1954.

“He shared and encouraged my interests all along.”

Sheila continued working, but managed well with the help of her husband. Sheila was the founding member of the Fiji Registered Nurses and helped form the association which later joined the Viti Registered Nurses.

“We had no strike action in our constitution, but of course things have changed now.”

The Pacific South East Asia Women’s Association had been one of the keen areas of interest for Sheila.

She attended nearly all tri-annual conferences overseas in Canberra, Tonga, Hawaii, New Zealand, while in 1974 she led a delegation of six women to Korea.

The aim of PPSEAWA has always been to promote peace and harmony among different nations.”

It seemed as though Sheila took part nearly in all activities around Suva. She was quite fond of cooking and entertaining.

For recreation she played bridge and bowls.

She hoped that in 1975 women would come forward to support the recently formed Cancer Society by way of becoming members so that a Cancer Research Centre could be established.

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