Speech by the Eastern Cape MEC of Health Mrs Nomsa Jajula at the inauguration of retired nurses held in East London

The Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape Mrs Nosimo Balindlela
Members of Executive Council
Members of Provincial Legislature
Councillors
Retired nurses
Health district officials
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed:

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you once again to this occasion of the inauguration of retired nurses. Nursing is a profession which occupies a special place in my heart. Maybe the passion I have with the profession is because I am a former nurse myself. The profession in my time elicits images of dedication, caring, commitment, sacrifice and values that were displayed by you with pride.

Today we acknowledge those attributes hence we are resolute in our decision as the Eastern Cape department to bring you back to the system so that those values which you lived by and handle our people with, find life among the present crop of nurses that serve our people. The concept of Batho Pele is a concept which you also gave birth to whilst you were in the mainstream employment of the department.

The government has identified critical areas wherein your skills are needed as a matter of urgency, that being the Clinical Services area especially clinical instruction, the mentoring and coaching of nursing students in the clinical and classroom environment; the restoration of professionalism and caring ethos in the nursing profession; ensuring effective integration of theory and practice for the benefit of the communities of the Eastern Cape province.

The Department of Health has budgeted R2,5 million for this financial year to absorb 70 retired nurses back to the nursing profession. The department has seen success in the absorption of retired nurses as evidenced by the East London Complex which comprises Cecilia Makiwane, Frere hospitals and the Umtata Complex specifically the Nelson Mandela hospital. These two pilots taught us how to implement the model of absorbing the retired nurses. The nurses will be spread throughout the province based on the needs.

The Eastern Cape population stands at 6,4 million and the majority of our people depend on public health facilities. The nurses are the face of our service delivery and the dispensing arm of quality health care to our people. As we while the night away, your presence here despite your ages, awakens our consciences to say, we have a moral duty to continue serving our people with unmatched distinction which you embody. With those few words, I welcome you back to the department and look forward to your guidance and fruitful contribution.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
20 September 2007