The University of Botswana community joins the nursing fraternity and the rest of Batswana in celebrating the life of Professor Serara Segarona Kupe Mogwe who passed on after a long illness on September 2, 2020 aged 93.
Professor Mogwe was the first Head of the Department of Nursing Education, now School of Nursing, which by then was housed in the Faculty of education. She established the School of Nursing when she joined the then University of Botswana and Swaziland in 1977 on secondment from the Government of Botswana to start a Bachelor of Education in Nursing programme
The programme was designed to produce nurse educators who could later teach in the diploma nursing school. Professor Mogwe retired from the University of Botswana in 1999. Before joining the University of Botswana, she worked as Chief Nursing Officer in the then Ministry of Health where she was responsible for both education and practice.
Given her multiple roles as nurse educator, nurse administrator, policy developer and a legendary nurse leader profession, Professor Mogwe has been described as a great leader and maverick of the nursing profession. She mentored many nurses in the country, having been the first nurse to attain a Bachelor’s Degree, Masters and PhD in Nursing.
Many simply regarded her as the “Number One Nurse” in Botswana or the Florence Nightingale of Botswana. She was an icon in nursing not only in Botswana but also in the region, Africa and the world. Prayers are held at her sister's home in Mogoditshane behind Tlotlo Hotel. Professor Mogwe will be laid to rest on tomorrow (September 8, 2020) at Phomolong in Gaborone.