bursary function at Protea Landmark Lodge, Bloemfontein
16 February 2006
Programme Director,
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a pleasure for me today to welcome some representatives of the student
body of whom we supported previously through the provision of bursaries to
further their education. I realise that there are so many of our students who
have completed their studies who cannot be here today but I have expressed the
need to meet with those who are available to attend especially since I have
only seen your names on paper.
Ladies and gentlemen: developing the human capacity of our province is one
of our key strategic themes as well as the main pillar of our mission statement
which refers to the development and empowerment of personnel. The Free State
Department of Health has identified skills development and training as a major
intervention and a very suitable vehicle for gaining and maintaining excellence
in quality health care delivery. It is against this background that we provide
bursaries to employees and needy students outside the department.
The Department of Health has since 2000 progressively increased its
commitment to human resource development of this province and has since 2000
allocated 1083 full time bursaries to deserving learners and 1247 part time
bursaries. In total we have invested R73.9 million over this period in the
education of our future health care workers.
The Free State Department of Health has, for the new study year, allocated
bursaries to 332 students from all five districts in the province. 232 students
will receive full time bursaries and 100 employees will study part time.
Bursaries have been allocated in the following academic programmes:
* M.B.CHB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (11),
*·Diploma in Nursing and Midwivery (200)
*·Diploma in Clinical Technology (11)
*·Diploma in Emergency Medical Care (10)
We have also allocated part time bursaries to students studying
*·Advanced University Diploma in Advanced Midwivery and Neonatology (18);
*·Advanced University Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (26);
*·Advanced University Diploma in Primary Health Care Nursing (46);
*·Advanced University Diploma in Forensic Nursing (8) and
*·Postgraduate studies in Disaster Management (2).
Ladies and gentlemen as you can see our focus with the R14.6 million
available for this year, is on the careers of nursing and medical doctors. The
allocations reflect the department's commitment to development and to address
scarce categories of health professions. We have prioritise the training of
nurses with an additional amount of R6 million being made available for this
purpose to the Free State School of Nursing. This is an increase from the
allocation of last year (R2.4million).
Currently, the Free State Department of Health are also committed to 410
other students to further their studies.
The study fields for these students vary from MBChB, B Optometry, B
Pharmacy, B Com, B Occupational Therapy, B Sc Dietetics and a number of Diploma
courses such as Diploma in Clinical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences,
Information Technology, Public Management, Security Management and Hospital
Management amongst others.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say that 76 of our bursary holders
finished their studies at the end of 2005 and will do their community service
year this year at health institutions across the country. We are working very
hard to ensure that in 2007 our bursary holders do their community service year
in the Free State province.
Program Director, we will continue with the programme of funding students to
conduct studies in health related courses until such time we have been able to
address the backlog in certain health professions in terms of personnel.
To our guests here today, I want to congratulate you on your achievements
and trust that you will be able to successfully apply the knowledge and
experiences gained during the time you have studied. As young people and new
entrees to the labour market you would sometime find it difficult to adjust to
the business world but this too shall pass and soon you will find yourselves on
the road to success in your chosen careers.
You are the future of our country's economy and your contribution to the
health and wellness of our communities would stand the test of time and future
generations will be proud of the contribution you have during your time.
We have a responsibility to plough back to our community and country. We had
been offered an opportunity and we seized it and now it is time to make sure
that we make a humble contribution in building a better world.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
16 February 2006
