Dear Colleagues
We are very pleased that this ceremony takes place just two days after we together with the Minister for Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi concluded a three day visit to uMzinyathi District where the Minister was outlining what has to be done in as far as the implementation of National Health Insurance is concern.
It has to be noted and appreciated that KwaZulu-Natal has been allocated two sites as pilots for the implementation and that these are uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu District. As a Province we are also very fortunate that under the leadership of our Honourable Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, we asked and were granted permission to add another one District for which we are going to pay for, this being Amajuba District.
During the three days spent in Dundee it dawned to me that we still need to do a lot to improve the care we give to our sick people. I am just happy that in this District we have performed better and seven of our nurses have been recipients of the glorious Awards starting with;
- Nurse N. I. B. Mnyandu of Hlabisa Hospital who obtained it in 2003
- Nurse S. Hlabisa from Hlabisa Hospital who got it in 2006
- Nurse N.A. Mkhumbuzi from Manguzi Hospital who got it in 2007
- Nurse N. Ndaba from Hlabisa Hospital again who got it in 2008
- Nurse D.J. Ngcongo from Mosvold Hospital who got it in 2009
- Nurse N.E. Mngomezulu from Bethesda Hospital who got it in 2010, as well as
- Nurse S.B. Cebekhulu who excelled by being number one both at Provincial and National level last.
My message today is that we need to give recognition and praise to all the good nurses who continue to hold human life in high esteem and that we work with the unions to get rid of all those who are devils in white dresses.
I must say there are more positives that we witness taking place in this District, starting with the global acclaimed victory in the war against the spread of Malaria. We also praise the Umthombo Wolwazi Youth Development Programme that has produced Doctors and Clinicians like no other scheme in the country.
We also have some misgivings about the way the Emergency Services are run in this District. Our people in distress are not given the assistance and attention they deserve. There are more stories on why the ill or injured person cannot be assisted; it is wrong, unacceptable and scandalous. I just hope the District EMS Manager is here.
Ladies and gentlemen, hardworking and committed nurses, let us all do what is right and strive to get the Cecilia Makiwane Recognition Award and the Marilyn Lehana Award as well as the Indondo Community Development Award from the Office of the Premier in recognition of our work.
Like Cecilia Makiwane; Mama Albertina Sisulu and Merylin Lehana, let us continue treating and regarding Nursing as a calling and that those who join the profession must not just do so because they happen to meet the criteria.
Nursing will remain a noble profession if we all respect the human life.
I thank you.
