The following week will see 2 062 new nurse graduates joining health care workforce in KwaZulu-Natal
The Department of Health's Nursing Colleges will confer certificates to nurses who had been studying in the various campuses of the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nursing. In the previous two years the College produced 1 769 nurses in 2007 and 1 952 in 2008. The new 2 062 graduates will join the already overstretched healthcare services in the province. Currently, there is a global crisis of the health workforce, expressed by acute shortages and 'poaching' health workers by developed countries.
KwaZulu-Natal has a very high burden of disease, with the highest HIV prevalence, TB, STI and diarrhoea incidence rates in the country. The clinical workload; defined as the average daily number of patients attended to by a trained nurse in Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities, of nurses dropped to 22,6 in 2007/08 (from 34,9; 26,7; 24,5 in 2004/05; 2005/06; 2006/07 respectively) patients per nurse per day (HST, 2008). This is an indication of the positive impact of the KwaZulu-Natal College of Nurses annual outputs into the service.
"Health professionals play a central and critical role in improving access and quality healthcare for the majority of people who depend on public healthcare. They provide essential services that promote health, prevent diseases and deliver health care services to individuals, families and communities based on the primary healthcare approach. Mechanisms for optimising the strengths and skills of health professionals will be essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)" believes the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
The graduation ceremonies will be held as follows:
Date: 15 September 2009
Time: 09h30
Venue: Durban City Hall
Speaker: MEC for Health; Dr SM Dhlomo
Date: 16 September 2009
Time: 09h30
Venue: Durban City Hall
Speaker: Prof BR Bhengu (Head of School of Nursing: University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Date: 23 September 2009
Time: 09h30
Venue: Show Hall, Lot 1219, Hardwick Street, Newcastle
Speaker: Professor HSB Ngcobo (Head of Department: Psychology – University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Journalists are invited to join and report on the event.
Issued by: Department of Health, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
9 September 2009
