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South African Nursing Council (SANC)

New Nursing Council to address health challenges

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:06

By Luyanda Makapela

The newly appointed South African Nursing Council (SANC) will assist the Health Ministry in dealing with challenges faced by the nursing fraternity and will attempt to restore the profession’s public image.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang launched the new council and its 25 new members.

“It is my belief that being a member of the council is an opportunity for professionals to make a positive contribution towards the health and well being of society, and in the profession, in terms of ensuring that professionals are appropriately guided,” the minister said.

The minister said she had every confidence that the new council would conduct its business effectively.

She said the department had an encouraging composition of professionals to ensure fair representation and capacity to deliver on its mandate.

The council includes expertise in nursing practice; nursing education; community health; primary health care; occupational health and mental health.

“They are further complemented by other appointees with expertise in finance and law so that the council is able to conduct its business successfully,” Dr Tshabalala-Msimang said.

The minister, however, said it was no secret that the previous council had had serious challenges which had damaged the nursing profession’s image.

“Therefore, this council has a responsibility to rebuild its image and ensure that it fulfils its mandate.”

She reminded the council members that nurses made up a large portion of the health workforce and they were looking up to the newly elected council for effective leadership.

“You have assumed a leadership position that needs a personal and collective effort,” she told them.

The minister said during an interaction with a community in Potchefstroom in March, the issue of a shortage of staff and a lack of professional nurses was raised.

"As a way of addressing this challenge we are going to increase the number of support staff in our clinics and hospitals."

The minister said the department would also encourage staff to stay in the profession.

"We are concerned about the number of nurses leaving the country while our people are suffering in rural areas.

"We are doing our best to address the challenges regarding the shortage of nurses. Our department will also make sure that as they recruit new nurses they will also come up with ways to keep them in the profession."

- BuaNews