Summit to focus on improving nursing

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Pretoria - The reconstruction and revitalisation of the nursing profession are some of the key issues expected to be addressed during a nursing summit next month.

The three-day summit, to run from 5 - 7 April 2011 at the Sandton Convention Centre, will be hosted by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. Provincial Health MECs, hundreds of current and retired nurses and unions are expect to attend.

The summit comes at a time when the department is introducing various measures geared at improving the performance of the public health sector and improving human resources development and management in the health sector. 

Department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said the summit was expected to produce a Nursing Compact, which will be a guiding tool in the development of nursing in South Africa.

Nursing has been identified as being key in the performance of the public health system and in the implementation of the primary healthcare approach followed by the department in delivering health services in the country. 

Other key issues expected to be addressed during the summit include nursing education and training, ethical and value system of nursing, planning, resourcing and financing nursing as well as creating an enabling environment for nursing, which will look at the role of the nurse in the improvement of health outcomes.

President Jacob Zuma is expected to open the summit with an address.