Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has called on nurses to restore professionalism in their career. Addressing more than a 1 000 nurses during the Gauteng Nurses Imbizo at the Birchwood Hotel on the Gauteng East Rand today, Mokonyane said the conduct of some of the nurses leaves much to be desired.
The Imbizo comes amid media reports of ill-treatment of patients by nurses at public hospitals.
The Imbizo is aimed at exploring ways to improve the quality of care and the restoration of the dignity and integrity of the nursing profession. It would also explore issues of curriculum, ethics, development and training.
Mokonyane said the profession does not have to be ridiculed because of few bad elements in the system. She said the Imbizo should mark a renewal, the beginning of improvement in the way nurses work in public health institutions and clinics. She also committed government to improving the working conditions and infrastructure in the health care sector in the province.
“In the past, nurses were pillars of society, known for their caring nature and the dedication towards their profession; however, the same cannot be said today. Whilst a lot has gone wrong, there are many committed nurses in the public sector and those need to be recognised,” said Mokonyane.
The Premier further said there was an urgent need to recruit the retired nurses back into the profession. She said their knowledge and skills were vital for the mentoring of young nurses.
Mokonyane also acknowledged that in the past government made mistakes by allowing officials without sufficient knowledge of hospitals' needs to procure goods and services for them. She said it was important for medical equipment to be procured directly by hospitals rather than being centralised so as to avoid procurement of wrong and sub-standard equipment.
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
29 August 2009
