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Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has affirmed his department’s commitment that no nurse will be able to care for patients without proper protective equipment as the country fights against the spread of Covid-19.
Mkhize was speaking at a candlelight ceremony commemorating International Nurses Day at King Edward Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
MEC for health and some health workers from all provinces participated in the ceremony through Zoom.
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Mkhize said it is regrettable that the fight against the pandemic has caused the death of some health workers. He said that the contribution of the nurses was immeasurable.
Mkhize said the pandemic had exacerbated the cracks and exposed the impact of unequal distribution of resources between the public and private sectors. However, the department remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that healthcare professionals receive all the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and tools necessary for commerce.
“As we celebrate our nurses and midwives, I would like to affirm our commitment to ensure that no nurse can care for patients without the proper protective equipment, whether at the community level during examination and testing or in a health facility. ” said the minister.
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Mkhize praised the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, who urged the provinces to fill frozen and vacant positions at all levels during the pandemic and more. there.
Caring for caregivers
All provinces were finalizing their recruitments for day-to-day health services and case management in preparation for the anticipated increase in the virus, the minister said.
The department also pledged to support health workers to address any immediate physical and mental health problems that arise from the pandemic.
“In this sense, we have prioritized the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to care for caregivers.
“Through this program, our front-line health workers have a safety net throughout the care process.
“We would also like to congratulate our social partners, who have provided broad support to our nurses during this difficult time,” added Mkhize.
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