International Nurses’ Day observed
THE Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Centre in Seshego was a sea of white when approximately 1 500 nurses gathered to celebrate International Nurses Day last Thursday.
LIMPOPO – THE Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Centre in Seshego was a sea of white when approximately 1 500 nurses gathered to celebrate International Nurses Day last Thursday.
The event is celebrated around the world every May 12, and commemorates the work of the legendary Florence Nightingale as well as her birth. It also commemorates renowned South African nurse, Cecilia Makiwane, who was the first African registered professional nurse in South Africa and an early activist in the struggle for women’s rights.
This year, the nurses gathered in Seshego commemorated the day by producing and distributing a nursing kit that contained educational and public information to be used by nurses everywhere. The theme of the day was: “nurses: a force for change – care effective, cost effective”.
As customary during this commemoration, a symbolic lamp was taken from the Nurses’ Chapel and handed from one nurse to another. The lamp symbolised the nursing profession and was to encourage nurses to be a light to others.
During the proceedings, the healthcare custodians took a Nursing Pledge of Service to give service to humanity in an endeavour to practise their profession with conscience and dignity.
The nurses vowed to maintain the utmost respect for human life and said they would not permit consideration of religion, nationality, race nor social standing to come between their duties and their patients.
Addressing delegates during the event, deputy general secretary of the Democratic Nurses of South Africa, Maditaba Masemola, outlined the precarious conditions nurses work under.
“Nurses in this country find themselves working under difficult conditions, where our safety is not guaranteed, but we are expected to deliver effective care. We work under fear of being murdered or raped at any time as our health institutions do not have proper security,” Masemola said.
During his keynote address, health and social development MEC, Ishmael Kgetjepe, told the nurses that he was at the event to salute and celebrate those who were always available to give hope to others and had the potential to improve and save lives.
“We celebrate with you because we know that there are many people, families and communities who have been cared for by our nurses in their lifetime, either for ailments or health promotional activities. These people are honest enough to remember the nurses who cared for them with benevolence,” said Kgetjepe.
