Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has called on nurses to celebrate the life of Mama Sisulu by being passionate about the nursing profession.
Mokonyane was addressing nurses during her visit at Cofimvaba Hospital as part of the commemoration of 100 years centenary of Mama Albertina Sisulu.
“We are here today because we are celebrating our heroes, Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.
“We must talk about our Florence Nightingale … Mama Sisulu. Government saw a need to celebrate the life of Mama Sisulu our heroine. There is a need for our history to be rewritten,” Mokonyane said on Tuesday.
On Sunday, government and the people of South Africa commemorated Mama Sisulu’s Centenary in Soweto. Mama Sisulu would have turned 100 years on that day.
“Mama Sisulu is a woman of fortitude. MaSisulu did not live her life for herself, she shared her life with all of us. Mama Sisulu is a symbol of our African culture,” Mokonyane said.
She called on the nurses to emulate Mama Sisulu who was passionate about her profession as a nurse and education.
“She encouraged us to go to school. She made sure that she invested in the education of her siblings. Education can take you to greater heights,” she said.
She further urged unions not to prevent nurses from performing their duties irrespective of the differences they have.
On her arrival at the hospital, Mokonyane was welcomed by the hospital’s management who briefed her about the hospital and their challenges, among other things.
She then toured the hospital accompanied by the hospital’s management and provincial government officials.
Mokonyane told media the hospital needed an upgrade. “We must make sure the maintenance of public facilities happens as part of Mama Sisulu’s legacy,” she said, adding that areas which need to be upgraded have been identified.
Minister Mokonyane also donated 15 TV sets to Cofimvaba hospital.
Chairperson of All Saints Hospital and Cofimvaba Hospital Board, Nyalaba Qongqo, said the hospital is in a process of using computers for admission.
Qongqo said although there is a lot of good things happening at the hospital, he expressed concern about lack space for mentally ill patients.
“Although much has been done, there is still a lot that needs to be done in our hospital,” he said.
Nursing a calling
One of the nurses at Cofimvaba Hospital, Precious Ngcaka, told SAnews that she is proud of the nursing profession.
“Without us, there will be no one to look after sick people. We are the most important people,” she said.
According to Ngcaka, nurses must be treated with respect because of their profession.
Echoing the similar sentiments was Sokhulu Qwabe, who has been a nurse for eight years. She told SAnews she loves her work and that looking after sick people has always been what she wanted to do.
“I joined the nursing profession because it is my passion to look after sick people,” she said, adding that she wants to be like Mama Sisulu who was passionate about her nursing profession.
MaSisulu life and times
This year marks the centenary of both Mandela and Sisulu’s births and government has set out a programme of commemorative events to mark the lives of the struggle stalwarts.
Sisulu emerged as a powerful political figure in the 1950s playing a significant role in major campaigns such as the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings.
Mama Sisulu passed away on 5 June 2011 peacefully at home in Linden, Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za
