May 12th marks the commemoration of the International Nurses Day which coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale. The day is commemorated worldwide and in Kwazulu-Natal the MEC for Health says it should remind nurses of their commitments to serve the people with dignity and respect.
This year's Nurse's Day comes a decade after governments adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and 17 years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa. The 2010 MDG Report highlighted a number of major achievements in the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals; however there are still major gaps in the health related goals.
The MEC, Dr Dhlomo, will join the commemorative event, organised by the Democratic Nurses Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) that will take place at Edendale Hospital on Thursday; 12 May 2011 from 09h30. The media is invited to the MEC’s address to nurses.
MEC Dhlomo has stated that, "Nurses are the healthcare professionals closest to patients and they are sending us a clear message that they can arm people with the knowledge to help them make the critical lifestyle changes. Nurses are a solid rock on which any progress in achieving our health related MDG commitments will be made. They are a foundation to ensure that no woman dies giving life. It is with committed nurses, supported by communities and a people-centred health system that we will ensure that every born child reaches the age of five years healthy and well developed."
The ability to access health services is key. However; access to services is also limited by cost, by attitudes and/or practices that make a service unsuitable, by poor quality, or simply by lack of availability of qualified personnel.
During the commemoration of the World Health Day on 7 April the MEC dedicated the day to health workers and thanked them for their continued determination to serve the people under, at times, not the best of conditions. Continuing from the same message the MEC would like this year's Nurse's Day to be a reminder to all nurses that when they joined the profession they took a pledge where they committed themselves to the service of the people. "As nurses commemorate this important day they will recite the nurses pledge where, amongst other things, they will pledge that "the total health of my patients will be my first consideration," says MEC Dhlomo.
Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo MEC for Health says, "It is important to recognise that health is not a commodity produced by health services. Health is socially determined, as well as being influenced by the environment."
The MEC further calls on nurses to be in the front line answer to tackling chronic diseases of lifestyle. "They must enable individuals and communities to enhance their wellness. As we progressively focus our services towards prevention programmes - out of hospitals and clinics into communities – and involving communities in the identification of students; we want to have nurses who can take the time to counsel and educate."
With the escalating problems of non-communicable diseases mortality and morbidity and soaring costs, says MEC Dhlomo, government will not miss the opportunity to capitalise on the enthusiasm and expertise that nurses can bring to addressing this health crisis.
Enquiries:
Chris Maxon
Cell: 083 447 2869
