Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has reassured nurses of his commitment in improving their working conditions in this country.
In his message to the nurses to mark the International Nursing Day today, Motsoaledi stressed the importance of nurses as the backbone of healthcare delivery in the whole world. “Throughout the world, nurses are the backbone of healthcare delivery. Without them, we can’t begin to talk of any healthcare system”, said the health Minister.
Last month the health Minister hosted a National Nursing Summit that was attended by nurses (retired and current), mid-wives and student nurses. The Summit, opened by head of State President Jacob Zuma discussed issues relating to training among others and culminated in a nursing compact which now serves as a roadmap towards improving the nursing profession in South Africa.
“A lot of wrong things occurred in the sector (nursing). Contrary to popular belief and propaganda, the slippery road towards nursing decline in this country started as far back as 1986, and what the democratic government inherited in 1994 was a nursing profession plagued by problems”, the health Minister said, further committing himself to improving the working conditions of nurses in this country.
There are moves currently underway to re-commission the nursing colleges as part of improving training and output of nurses. This re-commission will assist particularly in producing increased number of nurses that will in turn alleviate the excessive workload that nurses are encountering especially in the public sector.
In conclusion, the health Minister called upon nurses in South Africa to work together with him in ensuring that the challenge that was made by President Zuma in bringing back dignity to the nursing profession is met. “In his opening of the nursing Summit last month the President called on us to work hard in bringing back the dignity of nursing in this country. On my part, I am ready to deliver on those aspects that I am required to deliver on such as provision of leadership, ensuring that the working conditions and indeed salaries of nurses are improved. We dare not fail in this regard”, concluded the health Minister.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: 079 517 3333
Nurses are the backbone of our health system – says Motsoaledi on International Nursing Day
