10 July 2008
The Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has expressed her confidence in the new South African Nursing Council (SANC) that it would assist the Department of Health to deal with many of the challenges that the previous Council faced, restore its image with the Public and with the Nursing Profession.
The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the new Council in Pretoria this morning, where she also announced the names of the 25 new Council members, whose Chairperson is Ms Jabulile Makhanya and and Registrar Ms Hasina Subedar.
She said: “We have quite an encouraging composition of 25 professionals to ensure fair representivity and capacity to deliver on its mandate. They have expertise in nursing practice, nursing education, community health, primary health care, occupational health and mental health. They are complemented by other appointees who have expertise in finance and law so that the Council is able to conduct its business effectively.”
On the legacy of the previous Council, the Minister said: “It is no secret that the previous Council had very serious challenges and problems that certainly damaged its image in the eyes of the public and the nursing profession. This Council has a responsibility to rebuild the image of the Council and to ensure that it fulfils its mandate.”
Without appropriating blame to anybody, the Minister said that she was hopeful that the Registrar Ms Subedar who had undergone training at Harvard University during the past year, would use the acquired knowledge to enrich the Nursing Council’s management systems and help to create a good working environment.
Issued by:
National Department of Health
For more information contact: Charity Bhengu 083 679 7424
The Council members are:-