Health Dept calls for all hands on deck to protect nurses, other healthcare workers
The call comes as nurses continue to face physical and verbal abuse while on duty, with recent incidents of robbery and sexual assault reported at primary healthcare facilities across the country.
The department said nurses play a critical role in delivering quality healthcare and that a safe, supportive working environment is key to achieving long-term health outcomes like reduced infant and maternal mortality.
The commemoration in 2025 is being held under the theme: 'Our nurses. Our future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies.'
It's a reminder of the crucial role nurses play not only in healthcare delivery, but in building stronger, more resilient economies.
The department will also participate in the global launch of the State of the World's Nursing 2025 report on Monday, hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
"It is for this reason that the department appeals to all stakeholders in the society to join hands with government, law enforcement agencies and various community-based structures to make health facilities safer places for nurses to carry out their duties,' said spokesperson Foster Mohale.
In a bid to ease workloads and improve care, it's set to recruit 200 additional nurses as part of the Human Resources for Health Strategy 2030 — a plan linked to the country's commitment to universal health coverage under the National Health Insurance (NHI).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Drowning rates in SA go up while global figures drop, says Lifesaving SA
Drownings in South Africa are increasing, bucking the global trend where the rates are dropping, Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) warned in a statement to mark World Drowning Prevention Day on Friday. 'While global drowning deaths have dropped by 38% over the past two decades, South Africa's rates are rising,' the federation said, adding the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated at least 2,700 drowning deaths a year, with children under five at the greatest risk. Africa has seen a 3% decline, while South Africa has struggled to deal with the threat. WHO statistics showed at least 1,600 drowning deaths a year in the country, but these figures did not include deaths from flooding disasters, LSA said. 'In South Africa the crisis is worsened by climate change and flooding disasters, such as those in the Eastern Cape in June, and preventable risks such as unsafe farm dams and canals, inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure and traditional baptism ceremonies at rivers and along coastline.'
The Herald
20 hours ago
- The Herald
Health department takes charge in quest for global TB vaccine in SA
If the clinical trials that are now under way succeed, the world may have a vaccine that can prevent tuberculosis (TB) in adults and adolescents within the next few years, says health minister Aaron Motsoaledi. Motsoaledi was giving the keynote address at a national workshop in Sandton on Wednesday on the creation of a TB vaccine for children and adults. 'This is a beginning of a new chapter where prevention of TB through vaccination will become the order of the day and a groundbreaking innovation,' Motsoaledi said. The workshop was hosted by the department of health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 'For over 100 years, we have relied on the BCG vaccine to protect our children from TB. But we have not had a tool that can protect adolescents and adults', he said. Motsoaledi said the day when an announcement is made on the availability of the vaccine will be a revolutionary and would be like freedom from slavery for citizens. 'The slavery of poverty, which is exacerbated by tuberculosis, premature death of young adults, people losing jobs because of tuberculosis, will come to an end', he said. Motsoaledi emphasised that the key areas that will make the system ready for implementation and rollout of the vaccine will be generating evidence for policy and investments, reliable delivery systems, and production and supply of the TB vaccine. 'These new vaccines will be a game changer for prevention and for reducing the need for TB preventive treatment in health systems', he said. Motsoaledi said the advent of Covid-19 taught the world when urgency met preparation. 'We saw how vaccines could be developed, approved and distributed at record speed but we also learnt that science alone is not enough. Public trust, strong systems, clear communication and equitable access are just as essential,' Motsoaledi said. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- TimesLIVE
Health department takes charge in quest for global TB vaccine in SA
If the clinical trials that are now under way succeed, the world may have a vaccine that can prevent tuberculosis (TB) in adults and adolescents within the next few years, says health minister Aaron Motsoaledi. Motsoaledi was giving the keynote address at a national workshop in Sandton on Wednesday on the creation of a TB vaccine for children and adults. 'This is a beginning of a new chapter where prevention of TB through vaccination will become the order of the day and a groundbreaking innovation,' Motsoaledi said. The workshop was hosted by the department of health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO). 'For over 100 years, we have relied on the BCG vaccine to protect our children from TB. But we have not had a tool that can protect adolescents and adults', he said. Motsoaledi said the day when an announcement is made on the availability of the vaccine will be a revolutionary and would be like freedom from slavery for citizens. 'The slavery of poverty, which is exacerbated by tuberculosis, premature death of young adults, people losing jobs because of tuberculosis, will come to an end', he said. Motsoaledi emphasised that the key areas that will make the system ready for implementation and rollout of the vaccine will be generating evidence for policy and investments, reliable delivery systems, and production and supply of the TB vaccine. 'These new vaccines will be a game changer for prevention and for reducing the need for TB preventive treatment in health systems', he said. Motsoaledi said the advent of Covid-19 taught the world when urgency met preparation. 'We saw how vaccines could be developed, approved and distributed at record speed but we also learnt that science alone is not enough. Public trust, strong systems, clear communication and equitable access are just as essential,' Motsoaledi said.
