Date: 30/08/2005
Source: Ministry of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Gala dinner in honour of retired nurses


Speech by the Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, at the gala dinner in honour of retired nurses, Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg, Gauteng

Programme Director
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentleman;

I wish to welcome you once again this evening to the gala dinner, which has been specially organised in honour of our retired nurses. I am delighted that we have been able to make great progress during this one-day meeting we had today.

We have been able to come up with very exciting outcomes including the establishment of an Interim Retired Nurses Forum. I have to add that I was particularly impressed by the amount of work the delegates have managed to produce in a period of just one day. Please give yourself a rapturous round of applause!

Ladies and gentlemen, this serves to prove that indeed we are dealing with very mature stewards of the nursing profession whose wisdom should continue to guide us. And of course it is because of this very wisdom that we will unashamedly continue to seek your ongoing advice in addressing some of the challenges facing the nursing profession. If the recent media coverage is anything to go by, the performance of some of our nurses demands that as health practitioners we go back to basics in order to salvage this noble profession.

Back to basics to me implies revisiting the ethos of pride and care as a nurse, which are a cornerstone of the profession. This means taking delight in serving the sick and the poor. I hope that this gathering would not only inspire but would also encourage our young nurses and nursing students across the country to serve their communities with pride and commitment.

Let me remind you that the success of this gathering would be determined largely by how well we implement our resolutions to the benefit of the nursing profession as well as improving the health service delivery of our country.

Please take today's gathering and this dinner event as a token of our appreciation and gratitude to your selflessness and unselfish servitude even during the darkest of days.

Thank you once more and enjoy the rest of the evening. Remember, this is your evening so please enjoy yourselves.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Health
30 August 2005