SEDIBENG.- The Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has saluted nurses stating that the nursing profession is a cornerstone of healthcare provision.
Mokgethi said that this as the world marked International Nurses Day today, 12 May, which is observed annually in remembrance of Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Nightingale is considered the mother of modern nursing. This year the Nurses Day is observed under the theme: Nurses: “A Voice to Lead – Invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health”.
The focus is on the need to protect, support and invest in the nursing profession to strengthen health systems around the world. Mokgethi said nurses are more often the first point of contact in the healthcare provision and were key in providing healthcare services and health education to the public.
“We can never over emphasise the key role of nurses in healthcare provision. The past two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated this. Despite fear and anxiety which was brought about by the new virus, and excessive workload, many nurses continued to show resilience as they went about their daily responsibility,” said Mokgethi.
The MEC further paid a special tribute to the nurses who succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As we mark the birth of Florence Nightingale, we wish to thank all nurses for your dedication, and commitment. We salute you! Many patients are forever grateful to you for the care during their illness and hospital stay,” said Mokgethi.
She also called on the public to show more restraint when interacting with nurses and not take their frustration on them.
