Deputy Minister Chikunga to visit the Nightingales Retired Nurses of King Williamstown to assess if their training is fit for purpose
The Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga will on Thursday, 12 March 2020, visit King Williamstown in the Eastern Cape, to assess the impact of the skills training provided by the National School of Government (NSG) to the Nightingales (the King Williamstown Retired Nurses’ Association) and Community Development Workers (CDWs) as part of capacity development intervention programme.
The visit is premised at the commitment made by the Department of Public Service and Administration, to provide the much needed training to the former public servants, during a courtesy visit to Ms Nontsikelelo Biko, a retired nurse herself and member of the Nightingales.
Nightingales currently run three projects in Ginsburg including a monthly soup kitchen for injured miners awaiting compensation from Government; provision of health education and sanitary pads for pubescent girls at poor schools in area; and renovating classrooms of one of the poor schools in the area as part of a Mandela Day project.
The Deputy Minister will first start by laying a wreath at the Steve Boko National Memorial Site and conduct a walk- about at the Heritage site in honour of the struggle activist.
Deputy Minister Chikunga will then meet and interact with the Nightingales about the work they are doing in the community.
The retired nurses, as health professionals, provide one of the most essential services in the community, and are among the critical public servants with a vital role to play in the rendering of professional and sustained public services to the people.
Members of the media are invited to join the event as follows:
Date: Thursday, 12 March 2020
Venue: Steve Biko National Memorial Site- Ginsburg Township, King Williams Town
Time: 11h00
For further media enquiries:
Departmental Spokesperson
Dumisani Nkwamba
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisani.nkwamba@dpsa.gov.za
