Sister Stella Tan
Sister of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS), RN, RM
In 1970, Sister Stella Tan entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) in Kuching, Sarawak where she attended nursing and was awarded the State Registered Nurse Certificate in 1977. As an RN, Sr. Stella was posted to St. Joseph Mission Hospital in the remote town of Kanowit, Sarawak, before being posted to a remote village mobile clinic, where she rendered general outpatient, maternal, and child health care services — including an immunization program — to the very remote areas of Sarawak.
After completing Midwifery training, she was posted to a remote mission hospital. There she trained three local girls to assist in running the facility and faced many challenges of life-threatening emergency situations.
Essential resources were not easily available, with light provided through hydropower covering 3 hours in the evening after which only torchlight was available for medical procedures.
She journeyed through treacherous river waters with rapids and whirlpools to remote villages to render healthcare services.
She received a diploma in Human Development, then went on to work in Pastoral Ministry setting up care for pregnant unwed mothers and victims of AIDS. She cared for the elderly at a Benevolent Home and relocated to Kapit in Sarawak where she provided pastoral care.
For years she provided — voluntarily, for free — general nursing care and welfare services (food items, bottled water, wound care aids) from a wagon that she pulled through rainforest paths in the Bau Rainforest.
She continues to give hope and life to the marginalized and disadvantaged.
Sr. Stella is a member of CNGM and CICIAMS.
Today we honor Sr. Stella, who cared for the poor of the Malaysian rainforest.
– Deb
Sr Stella’s story:
In 2012, Sr Stella’s services were extended to provide welfare services in terms of food items to the poor and sick in 9 rural villages in the Bau area. She also provided general nursing care, relief of pain and discomfort to patients including those with terminal illnesses through emotional support, love and compassion until 2019. Presently she continues to be an agent of hope and life to the marginalized and the disadvantaged groups in the society.
In 1970, Sister Stella Tan entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) in Kuching, Sarawak where she attended nursing and was awarded the State Registered Nurse Certificate in 1977. As an RN, Sr. Stella was posted to St. Joseph Mission Hospital in the remote town of Kanowit, Sarawak, before being posted to a remote village mobile clinic, where she rendered general outpatient, maternal, and child health care services — including an immunization program — to the very remote areas of Sarawak.
After completing Midwifery training, she was posted to a remote mission hospital. There she trained three local girls to assist in running the facility and faced many challenges of life-threatening emergency situations.
Essential resources were not easily available, with light provided through hydropower covering 3 hours in the evening after which only torchlight was available for medical procedures.
She journeyed through treacherous river waters with rapids and whirlpools to remote villages to render healthcare services.
She received a diploma in Human Development, then went on to work in Pastoral Ministry setting up care for pregnant unwed mothers and victims of AIDS. She cared for the elderly at a Benevolent Home and relocated to Kapit in Sarawak where she provided pastoral care.
For years she provided — voluntarily, for free — general nursing care and welfare services (food items, bottled water, wound care aids) from a wagon that she pulled through rainforest paths in the Bau Rainforest.
She continues to give hope and life to the marginalized and disadvantaged.
Sr. Stella is a member of CNGM and CICIAMS.
Today we honor Sr. Stella, who cared for the poor of the Malaysian rainforest.
– Deb
Sr Stella’s story:
In 2012, Sr Stella’s services were extended to provide welfare services in terms of food items to the poor and sick in 9 rural villages in the Bau area.
She also provided general nursing care, relief of pain and discomfort to patients including those with terminal illnesses through emotional support, love and compassion until 2019. Presently she continues to be an agent of hope and life to the marginalized and the disadvantaged groups in the society.
