‘A while ago, we had a Syrian patient who did not want to speak. You look at each other and you see and recognize something. Other colleagues noticed as well that he was looking at me differently. Eventually, he told me his story. In my opinion, the UMCG has to stimulate diversity proactively. It helps to have much more understanding for each other.’
After his MBO (vocational education in the Netherlands) Nursing, Christophe Mbondi Kamena did HBO (higher professional education in the Netherlands) Nursing and had an internship at the UMCG. ‘After the internship, one of the leading nurses asked me if I wanted to sign up for the nurses pool, because she wanted a more diverse team. Society is more diverse, so the team should be as well, she argued. If you look at the world from just one viewpoint, you will never get there.’
A fixed contract was not possible for Christophe, because he had no residence permit yet. ‘When I did get it, I applied and was hired.’ Since 2010, he has been a nurse at the UMCG and he often notices that within the mostly white team, he can make a difference for patients.
‘I am from Cameroon. When for example a Turkish-Dutch patient has family visiting with home-made food, I understand how important that is. It does not always fit within the medication schedule or the visiting policy. However, if you understand how important family and food is in some cultures, you can try and find a solution together.’
Until a few years ago, Christophe was not much invested in the subject of diversity and inclusion, he admits. ‘But, when you look around here, you see very few people of colour. I am careful with what I do and say, because I am a minority. I did not express myself on social topics in the coffee room when I noticed there was little understanding for it.’
‘In a certain situation, I really missed the presence of a manager. I saw a racist photo being shared, but nobody thought it to be an issue. I think that as an organisation you should clarify that this behaviour is not okay. That is why I filed a complaint on this. To remind the UMCG: show what is appropriate and what is not.’
‘I always found it to be very uncomfortable when there were those traditional Black Pete figures during the celebration of Saint Nicholas at the nursing ward. You know, with the thick lips. I had repeatedly swallowed down my critique, until there was a new white doctor working there who said he wanted the figures gone. He understood. Nevertheless, the hospital has to have a policy stating: this does not belong in our hospital. Find out, why do people experience this to be hurtful? There needs to be awareness of the fact that everything we do gives a certain impression.
‘As an organisation, you have to be very clear that discrimination and acting out in a certain way towards people has consequences. I found it to be very difficult to express myself and do not know for sure how large the group of UMCG employees is that is different. Still, it is important that you can go to your manager or another place within the organisation.’