The North West Department of Health recently held a joint-graduation ceremony of the Mmabatho and Excelsious Nursing Colleges where a total number of 545 nurses were graduating in different areas of nursing sciences. With 545 graduates, it is expected that this will assist in decreasing shortage of health professionals in the province particularly in the rural communities.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held in Mahikeng, MEC Dr Magome Masike said these nurses will be deployed to different health centres across the province particularly in the rural communities of the province.
“I am pleading with you to go and serve our most affected people in the rural areas. You are needed more in the rural communities more than you are needed in more developed cities. I hope you know better the conditions in our communities and will no doubt want to plough back,” pleaded Dr. Masike.
Masike also reminded the graduates that they are joining the health professionals workforce at the time when the country has taken a firm stand against maternal and child mortality. “When you take the oath today, you must remember that you are joining a massive movement for zero percent maternal and infant mortality,” said MEC Masike.
Top performer and midwifery graduate, Ontatile Magada (39) could not hide her excitement. “This is a special day for me. It’s a dream come true. I have always wanted to be a nurse. I chose nursing not because of money but because I have always wanted to help people. I am very happy and i will continue with my studies part time to study intensive eye care. I got top performer award today and I can only say it is because I was working and studying very hard,” said Doreen.
Her colleague, Mpya Jeffrey Madimetsa (36) from Letlhabile, Brits who graduated for Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing could also not hide his excitement. “This is a great day for me. I want to thank my family. I was able to achieve all this because of their support and of course my hard work.
Nursing it’s a call. I left my job to study nursing. After this I will be going back to my hometown, Brits in Letlhabile where I will be doing my community service at Letlhabille health centre. I want to thank the North West Department of Health for affording us this opportunity and I promise that I will serve my community with pride,” said Madimetsa.
MEC Masike used the opportunity to assure people of the North West province that his department will continue to work hard in addressing challenges of shortage of health professional.
“I am aware that there are still clinics out there that are not adequately staffed by nursing professional enough to match the population of a particular community, but I want assure you that, that is being given needed attention,” said Masike.
Masike reminded graduates that, nursing calls for discipline and dedication whether in terms of adherence to strict working standards or going beyond the call for duty and as they will be working in different facilities he will be expecting exactly that. “Nursing is a profession where quality and indeed, excellence are prerequisites,” concluded Dr Magome Masike.
