Issued by Ministry of Health
05 September 2005
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang met with approximately 200 South African nurses working in the United Kingdom yesterday. The meeting was held at the South African High Commission in London at the request of the Association of South African Nurses in the U.K. (ASANUK).
Chaired by the SA High Commissioner to London Ms Lindiwe Mabuza, the meeting gave an opportunity to the nurses to share their views about how best to contribute to the improvement of health service delivery in SA.
The chairperson of ASANUK Ms Mmapule Tladi-Small said SA nurses in UK would like to contribute to improving the provision of health services 'back at home' using the skills they have acquired while working in a developed setting like Britain.
Many other nurses expressed their views as the meeting was facilitated in a "Imbizo" format - allowing more people from the floor to voice their thoughts. The main issues discussed included the following:
The Minister used this opportunity to update the nurses on the interventions being made by the Department of Health to improve the working conditions for health professionals in public health sector including the development of a Human Resource Plan for Health, provision of rural and scarce skills allowance and the planned major increase in the number of nurses trained in the country.
The meeting agreed that there is a need to encourage nurses to come back home and to provide an honest and objective advise to those who consider emigrating. The Department would constantly communicate through ASANUK and other channels its efforts to improve the nursing profession. This should cover progress in the finalisation and implementation of the Human Resource Plan for Health, improvement in the working condition for nurses (including remuneration) and the availability of posts in the public health sector.
The majority of nurses at the meeting expressed an urgent need for them to come back to work in SA.
Minister Tshabalala-Msimang encouraged the nurses to apply for positions that are constantly advertised in the various provinces and hospitals. She also urged the nurses working in the UK through their organization to work closely with her department in addressing any challenges that may hinder their return to our country.
* Minister Tshabalala-Msimang remains in London today and tomorrow (September 05 and 06) to attend a meeting on the Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Contact
Sibani Mngadi
0827720161