Sr Theresa de Vries

Sr Theresa de Vries
Senior Officer: Professional Nurse, University of the Free State

Sr Theresa de Vries is a visionary leader and experienced healthcare professional with over 18 years of expertise in nursing education, wellness, and HIV care. 

Her journey in healthcare began in 1980 with her first training at Tygerberg Hospital. She moved to the Free State in the 1980s, where she worked in maternity care and dedicated 20 years to the Geriatric field, serving as second in charge of a large old age home. 

In June 2007, she began her role as a Clinical Facilitator at the School of Nursing. In July 2011, she expanded her work to include HIV testing at Health and Wellness while continuing her role as a Clinical Facilitator, holding both positions until the end of 2021. 

In 2017, Sr Theresa founded the Best Club Support Group at the University of the Free State, an initiative dedicated to supporting students living with HIV. Under her leadership, the club grew from one student to a community of over 450 members, offering programs such as pre- and post-counseling, a Treatment Buddy system, and an active WhatsApp support group. 

Sr Theresa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advanced Nursing Management with a focus on Primary Healthcare (PHC) and has specialized training in Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), Tuberculosis (TB), and Nurse-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (NIMART).

Currently, the Best Club is supported by Xoliswa Latyeba, the group’s Lay Counsellor, Coordinator, and Administrator, and Katlego Masike, who works closely with Xoliswa as the Chatroom Facilitator, focusing on stigma and discrimination. Together, they form a dynamic team dedicated to the holistic healing and empowerment of students.

Sr Theresa will be joined by Xoliswa Latyeba and Katlego Masike at the conference presentation. They will assist in highlighting the transformative work of the Best Club, demonstrating the power of collaboration and student-focused care in fostering resilience and wellness.