NC nurses ‘remain exploited, neglected and marginalised’

WHILE nurses across the city were celebrated on International Nurses Day on Friday, the Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (HAITU) highlighted the difficult circumstances under which nurses are expected to care for patients.

HAITU visited the grave of the founder of nursing education in South Africa, Sister Henrietta Stockdale, who established the country’s first nursing school in Kimberley.

HAITU general secretary Lerato Mthunzi stated that Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College remained neglected.

“We will continue to remind the state that they have a duty to fix the school and restore it to its former glory. HAITU has been at the forefront of this struggle and will ensure that the college does not lose its status of being a nursing college and that it transitions into an institution of higher education.”

She added that nursing education was lagging behind and needed to be formalised into mainstream higher education in order to improve the benefits and wages of nursing staff.

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“Health-care workers remain exploited, neglected and marginalised,” said Mthunzi.

“Sadly, the nursing profession is still looked down upon. Workers are not being paid proper allowance. It is a disgrace that the night shift allowance is R5.20 per hour. How can we expect nurses to risk their lives driving at night, or using public transport to get to work, when the allowance is so little? Why are they not being provided with a transport allowance as per the basic conditions of employment?”

Mthunzi indicated that despite their heroic work, nurses were expected to work in a collapsing health-care system, without resources, medication and with crumbling infrastructure.

“Living icons and unsung heroes who do amazing work every day, are doing incredible work without any recognition. Ordinary nurses trained other nurses and doctors who have saved lives and played a valuable role in transforming nursing. There are pockets of excellence in the nursing profession. They are not celebrated even if they die ... they are just forgotten.”

Meanwhile, Mediclinic patient experience manager Denise Coetzee said Ferdinand Baartman received the award for nursing excellence at Mediclinic Kimberley/Gariep for exhibiting care and dedication to patients.

Baartman has been working at the hospital for the past 15 years.

“He is known for his loyalty, dedication, knowledge and ability to care and lead by example,” sad Coetzee.

Coetzee added that schools were invited to submit posters of nurses as part of the celebrations.

“We received wonderful posters from St Patrick’s CBC, Staats President Swart Primary School and Clever Kids Crèche.”

The MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, the deputy general secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), Khaya Sodidi, and the provincial leadership of Denosa celebrated Nurses Day at the Horseshoe Motel in Kimberley on Friday.