the inauguration of retired nurses held in East London
20 September 2007
The Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape Mrs Nosimo Balindlela
Members of Executive Council
Members of Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Retired nurses
Health district officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed:
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you once again to this occasion of the
inauguration of retired nurses. Nursing is a profession which occupies a
special place in my heart. Maybe the passion I have with the profession is
because I am a former nurse myself. The profession in my time elicits images of
dedication, caring, commitment, sacrifice and values that were displayed by you
with pride.
Today we acknowledge those attributes hence we are resolute in our decision
as the Eastern Cape department to bring you back to the system so that those
values which you lived by and handle our people with, find life among the
present crop of nurses that serve our people. The concept of Batho Pele is a
concept which you also gave birth to whilst you were in the mainstream
employment of the department.
The government has identified critical areas wherein your skills are needed
as a matter of urgency, that being the Clinical Services area especially
clinical instruction, the mentoring and coaching of nursing students in the
clinical and classroom environment; the restoration of professionalism and
caring ethos in the nursing profession; ensuring effective integration of
theory and practice for the benefit of the communities of the Eastern Cape
province.
The Department of Health has budgeted R2,5 million for this financial year
to absorb 70 retired nurses back to the nursing profession. The department has
seen success in the absorption of retired nurses as evidenced by the East
London Complex which comprises Cecilia Makiwane, Frere hospitals and the Umtata
Complex specifically the Nelson Mandela hospital. These two pilots taught us
how to implement the model of absorbing the retired nurses. The nurses will be
spread throughout the province based on the needs.
The Eastern Cape population stands at 6,4 million and the majority of our
people depend on public health facilities. The nurses are the face of our
service delivery and the dispensing arm of quality health care to our people.
As we while the night away, your presence here despite your ages, awakens our
consciences to say, we have a moral duty to continue serving our people with
unmatched distinction which you embody. With those few words, I welcome you
back to the department and look forward to your guidance and fruitful
contribution.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
20 September 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
