Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

Nurses of South Africa and the world,

 

I greet you all

 

Dumelang, Avuxeni, Sanibonani, Ndimatsheloni, Molweni, Gooie more, Good morning, Thobela, 

 

Please allow me to welcome you to the 3rd SA Nurses’ Conference; under the theme Together we can strengthen the nursing theory and the practice landscape. This scientific conference provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the status of nursing in the country and for us to generate knowledge that will inform the future of our profession. 

 

It is important for us to reflect on the successes of our profession and how much of a groundwork still needs to be covered. Some of our successes have been evidenced by the increase in the life expectancy of South Africans to 62 years of age, we must pride ourselves that we were able to contribute to the well-being of society in general. What is left is for us to increase our efforts to even better health outcomes. 

 

2015 ended sadly with the passing on of Professor Rachel Vuyiswa Gumbi, who has hoisted the nursing flag very high in the academic fraternity. She was one of those who were instrumental to the existence of DENOSA and was the last president of the SANC. May her souls rest in peace. 

 

The biggest challenge for the nursing profession is the harmonization of the nursing voice in order to pursue policy improvement to the benefit of society. This can only be achieved if we are united, it requires unity in peace, which is a journey of thousands miles, to be taken one step at a time with the love for the profession. 

 

True leadership is required, leaders who have compassion, they listen to others; they become true leaders by the equality of their intent.

 

While it was our hope that every nursing practitioner from all disciplines gets an opportunity to experience this conference of nurses, we are certain that those fortunate enough will do all in their power to impart the knowledge gained from the conference onto those who have not been able to come for the improvement of this ever-evolving profession. 

  

This conference is renowned for the rare opportunity that it provides to nurses: time to pose direct nursing-specific relevant and clarity-seeking questions to decision-makers in health, from the minister at the top to senior managers beneath him. For the first time in the history of the democratic South Africa, we are happy that the conference will be addressed by the first country’s Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Dr N. Makhanya. We appreciate her appointment as it was one of the achievements of the nursing strategic goal that has been successfully realized. This is a position that we have lobbied for to government since 2006, so that nursing matters would have an accounting officer in government. We are most proud that Dr Makhanya has been an avid participant and leader of these conferences since their inception. As Chief Nursing Officer, we welcome her with warm hands. 

 

Furthermore, we are honoured that the Minister of Health, Dr A. Motsoaledi, will make a presentation on the National Health Insurance (NHI). This is the concept that, as healthcare service practitioners, we support wholeheartedly as it will completely change landscape of healthcare provision to all South Africans, particularly those who have been deprived of quality healthcare service on the basis of their poor economic standing. 

   

The timing of this conference is also taking place during the time that we are experiencing the changing landscape in nursing education. We really appreciate the involvement of the South African nursing council under the leadership of the Acting registrar Mrs T. Manganye for availing themselves to provide workshops that will enlighten all of us regarding the future of nursing education in our country. Prof Mulaudzi, the chairperson of FUNDISA will also add the nursing education voice when she addresses issues of transformation in nursing education. 

 

Leadership in nursing is also very critical to strengthen the quality of nursing offered in the country. Prof Rispel will share with us the authentic values that are required to take nursing forward. We are pleased with the high number of abstracts received from Nurses who are from Practice, Education and Regulation.

 

DENOSA was inaugurated on the 6th of December 1996, therefore will be turning 20 years on the 6th of December 2016. We hope to see you all when we celebrate 2 decades our existence. 

 

We are gravely concerned by the conditions of employment for Nurses in south Africa, that leaves much to be desired, we would like to reemphasize that we are still committed to ensuring that same improves for the better. We want a positive practice environment for all nurses.

 

We would like to thank all our sponsors for making this conference a success. Your assistance is having a positive impact on the profession. 

 

With the fully-packed programme, we hope that attendees will find the content of the conference very fruitful and worth sharing with seniors, colleagues, subordinates and student nurses so that the whole nursing population is on par with the developments in the profession.