By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE — In a profession where technical skill is the baseline, Sandra Dhaire proved on Friday that she has mastered both the science and the art of critical care.
The Avenues Clinic School of Nursing graduate was the undisputed toast of the afternoon at the 28th graduation ceremony, hosted by Cimas at the Celebration Centre.
As one of 38 graduates stepping into the next chapter of their professional lives, Sandra Dhaire did not just walk away with a certificate.
She swept the board, collecting a staggering six awards that underscored her exceptional grasp of intensive care, pharmacology, and bio-physics.
The Class of 2026
Her haul included the prestigious Special Award for Cimas Trophy (Highest Marks in the ICN State Final Examinations, January 2026), the J-Med Shield for Best Practical Intensive Care Nurse, and the Gold Shield in Intensive and Coronary Care Nursing.
Her academic brilliance was further recognised with the PCD Medical Trophy for Highest Marks in Bio-Physics, the Medimark Anaesthetists Trophy for Highest Marks in Anaesthetic Assessment, and the Seasons Trophy for Highest Marks in Pharmacology.
A Legacy of Specialist Training
Dhaire’s remarkable achievement did not happen in a vacuum. It was the product of a rigorous, decades-long institutional legacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, The Avenues Clinic Managing Director, Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu, reminded the audience of the immense weight of the occasion.
“Graduation is always a moment of great pride. It marks the end of one journey, but more importantly, it represents the beginning of another,” Ndhlovu said.
She revealed the depth of the clinic’s commitment to specialised training, noting that they have been training Intensive Care Nurses since 1998 and Operating Theatre Nurses since 1999, recently adding Oncology and Palliative Care to their post-basic specialisations.
“To date, the School has trained 185 Intensive Care Nurses and 162 Operating Theatre Nurses, bringing the total to 347 specialist nurses. This is a contribution of which The Avenues Clinic is immensely proud,” Ndhlovu said.
The MD noted that the school’s partnership with Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals allows students to attach to the open-heart surgery unit, providing an unparalleled clinical experience. She also highlighted the institution’s broader investment in healthcare, including the refurbishment of its ICU, HDU, and CCU wards, clinical equipment upgrades, and an annual contribution of $200,000 to support the Post Graduate School of Nursing.
“Never Lose That Human Touch”
While Dhaire’s academic and clinical marks were flawless, the underlying message of the ceremony focused on the human element of nursing.
Ndhlovu urged the graduates to remember that technical competence is only half the battle.
“Your knowledge will make you capable. Your experience will make you better. But it is your compassion, integrity and humanity that will make you exceptional,” she said.
“You will often meet patients at some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. They may not always remember every clinical intervention, but they will remember whether you listened to them, whether you treated them with dignity, whether you reassured them when they were afraid, and whether you genuinely cared. Never lose that human touch.”
Quoting Florence Nightingale, Ndhlovu reminded the Class of 2026 that nursing is a lifelong education: “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.”
A Well-Deserved Celebration
As the graduates prepare to enter the wards as fully-fledged specialist nurses, Dhaire’s performance serves as a shining example of what the institution aims to produce: professionals who are technically brilliant, highly disciplined, and deeply committed to saving lives.
For Sandra Dhaire, who dominated the Intensive and Coronary Care categories, the future is exceptionally bright. And for the healthcare sector in Zimbabwe, the addition of 38 well-trained, compassionate nurses—led by the standard set by their top achiever—is a much-needed injection of hope.
As Mrs Ndhlovu told the graduates: “Be proud of how far you have come, but remain excited about how much further you can go. Go forward with confidence. Serve with excellence. Lead with integrity. Care with compassion.”
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