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DENOSA statement on International Nurses Day: Government must address the severe disruptions on the country's healthcare system.
Media statement
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
PRETORIA - As today marks International Nurses Day (IND), the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) calls on the South African government to put clear strategy to address the gradual disruption that COVID-19 is causing on the country's healthcare system, which may end up being less responsive to the needs of many South Africans post- COVID-19.
At the core of this disruption in the healthcare service is the under-utilization of nursing skills and experience at the high decision-making echelons of many countries' healthcare systems despite the reality that healthcare systems globally are driven by majority healthcare professionals, nurses.
This is the warning from the Survey Report for January 2021 that will be released today by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), which found that just under 40% of 105 countries that were surveyed (South Africa included) have their countries' Chief Nursing Officers sitting at the highest decision-making intervention structures to resolve crises like COVID-19, whereas 28% of the countries reported non-existence of the Chief Nursing Officers in their countries.
Furthermore, the Report found that specialised nurses in infection, prevention and control are less involved in decision-making teams, with only 44% countries indicating their involvement, which is a missed opportunity.
The report also found that COVID-19 has resulted in severe disruption of healthcare services in various critical areas, namely:
- About 70% reduction in community routine vaccination;
- 69% reduction in Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) service.
- 61% reduction in treatment for mental health disorders;
- 55% reduction in cancer diagnosis and treatment;
- 46% reduction in malaria diagnosis and treatment;
- 42% reduction in TB detection and treatment; and
- 28 million routine surgeries cancelled.
This drastic reduction in various services is due largely to reprioritization and redeployment of healthcare workers from these service areas to fighting COVID-19.
DENOSA is concerned that South Africa's picture is no different to the findings of the ICN Report, and that the country is sitting on a ticking time-bomb as the effects of these reductions will further compound and worsen to a point where healthcare services won't be able to respond adequately. This will have negative impact on the economy since both economy and health are interlinked.
The Survey Report recommends, for example, that building up an innovative and nurse-led model of care, involvement of Chief Nursing Officers and experienced specialist nurses, including expansion of frontline services, particularly Primary Health Care (PHC), will bring about Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The report also recommends that maintaining adequate levels of nursing staff and supporting facilities with sufficient resources will solve about half the battle because nurses account for 80% of contact between patients and healthcare professionals.
DENOSA believes that South Africa can learn greatly from these recommendations as it is currently in the red zone. Instead of expanding its healthcare staffing with nurses, it is cutting it further down. Instead of increasing its spending on health, it has relegated it to position number 4 in its recent budget allocation from position number 2 over the years.
South Africa is in a better position to be able to change its dangerous route; there are still nurses who are qualified and young and willing to work in South Africa, but they are sitting at home without jobs. There are nurses who have recently qualified after completing their community service who could be absorbed.
Failure to follow these recommendations, however, will prove that the country has truly abandoned the National Health Insurance ideal as South Africa's form of Universal Health Coverage.
DENOSA will be commemorating this special day to the nursing profession, under this year's theme: "Nurses: A Voice To Lead - A Vision for Future Healthcare."
A national event will held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria from 10h00 to 14h00, under strict COVID-19 protocols, and will be connecting with all nurses in provinces via Zoom in various healthcare facilities.
In Mpumalanga, where DENOSA is collaborating with the Provincial Department of Health, nurses will gather at the Middelburg Banquet Hall from 10h00 to 14h00, where MEC and DENOSA Provincial leaders will address nurses.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA).
For more information, contact:
Cassim Lekhoathi, Acting General Secretary.
Mobile: 082 328 9671
Simon Hlungwani, DENOSA President.
Mobile: 082 328 9635
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, Communications Manager.
Mobile: 072 584 4175
