shortages of health professionals
17 May 2007
The MEC for Health will be part of celebrations at Mafikeng Nursing College
as part of addressing shortages of health professionals in the country and the
North West province in particular. The department will officially welcome
students graduating from Mmbatho Nursing College on Friday, 18 May 2007.
More than 100 students who have completed their studies through the college
will get their diplomas at the graduation ceremony to be held in Mmbatho
Convention Centre starting on Friday. We also wish to acknowledge that the
graduation of more than 100 nursing students is far from addressing the
shortage in the province but it will go a long way in addressing this challenge
in the province.
The students will be graduating in different fields including, Midwifery,
Psychiatric Nursing, Primary Healthcare and Comprehensive Nursing (General,
psychiatric, community and midwifery).
The department has 6 734 nurses on the persal system and there are 1 720
funded vacant posts. This includes, professional nurses, chief professional
nurses, nursing assistants and staff nurses.
Graduates on comprehensive diploma are already placed in hospitals
throughout the province. Midwifery, psychiatric and primary healthcare were
sent to the college by their respective institutions and provincial hospitals
to upgrade their skills and will return to service their areas.
The graduation ceremony will be held at Mmbatho Convention Centre starting
at 09h30 on Friday, 18 May 2007. About 1 035 students have graduated from the
college since 1994 and were absorbed in to the department.
All media houses are invited to capture the event.
Enquiries:
Lwandile Sicwetsha
Cell: 079 873 6400
Cell: 076 162 4941
Issued by: Department of Health, North West Provincial Government
17 May 2007
