Mpumalanga Department of Health welcomes new interns into its ranks

The Mpumalanga Department of Health (DoH) has welcomed 739 interns and community service health professionals at Nutting House Lodge on Friday February 3.

The province has been allocated 102 interns and 637 community service health professionals in different professions this year. A total of 552 commenced with their duties in January, and the rest will start in the following months, since they do not all complete their internships at the same time. Ninety-nine of them are Mpumalanga bursary holders.

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This is a two-year internship programme that all medical students must undergo on completion of five years at medical school before doing a year of compulsory community service. The pharmacists undergo a year’s internship in terms of the Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974.

The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, welcomed them all. “They are our role models, because they conquered different medical schools, some with the best results in their classes, and they are here to serve the community of Mpumalanga, especially the vulnerable, with diligence and respect while displaying the highest levels of ubuntu and morality.”

Manzini addressed the challenges relating to health professionals’ attitude, low morale and lack of caring ethics, which the province has witnessed and about which patients have complained. “I therefore urge you to undertake to uphold the principles indicated in the pledge throughout your careers, in order to restore the values and ethics entrenched in the medical profession.”

She said these healthcare workers must be aware that Mpumalanga has a huge shortage of medical personnel as compared to the other provinces, specifically in the deep rural areas. “Our wish is that after these two years, they should continue to serve our people. It would really be great if you continue and specialise in the province and serve our rural area communities.”

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Manzini addressed one of the most discussed issues faced by medical students. “I think it is also important that I address the burning issue of unemployed medical professionals, especially doctors, as it is something that worries all South Africans. As the Mpumalanga DoH, we have absorbed a total of 328 bursary holders, 110 doctors, 198 nurses, two radiographers, a dietician and 18 pharmacists in this financial year.”

Dr Lané Coetzee (23), born in Mbombela and currently serving at Witbank Provincial Hospital, represented the healthcare workers and said she appreciated this opportunity. “Thank you, MEC, for this function.”

She said during the event, there were discussions that Mpumalanga will have a university in future that allows medical students to have a platform. “Not having a university forces people to go out of this province when they have a dream.”