Pretoria - Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has committed his department to improve the working conditions for nurses in the public health sector.
Paying tribute to South African nurses during International Nurses Day on Wednesday, Motsoaledi acknowledged the challenges faced by nurses as they perform their daily duties.
These challenges include long working hours and in some instances inadequate and ageing equipment and infrastructure, Motsoaledi said.
He said among the programmes being implemented is the evaluation of nursing colleges in the country with a view to re-opening them in an attempt to improve the country's capacity to produce more nurses.
Motsoaledi also emphasised the importance of nurses in the delivery of quality healthcare services as backbones of any healthcare system.
"One of the key things that I have committed myself to is an increased emphasis on primary healthcare, nurses have always played a critical role in this regard and I want to make sure that they are at the forefront of prevention of diseases and saving lives...this is what nurses have always done and should continue to do," he said.
He further called on young people to consider a career in nursing but cautioned the public against un-registered nursing colleges.
North West Health and Social Development MEC Rebecca Kasienyane said that celebrating Nurses' Day was an opportunity to support the nurses in the massive work they do.
"The nursing profession is a highly demanding one and every single day, nurses dedicate their lives to helping others and striving to make a real difference to the wellbeing of those that they care for," Kasienyane said.
Nurses Day is celebrated annually on 12 May, the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the founder of modern nursing.
This year, the day was celebrated under the theme "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities".
