KZN Health MEC undertakes to continue improving conditions for nurses in the province.
The MEC of Health in KZN, Nomagugu Simelane, has undertaken to continue the provincial department’s drive to improve the conditions that nurses work under in the province’s healthcare facilities.
Simelane was addressing the DENOSA’s International Nurses Day 2023 event that was held at Ngwelezane Hospital in Empangeni in the King Cetshwayo District on 16 May.
Nurses attended the event from various districts of the province.
Simelane acknowledged the stress that nurses work under, often without any form of psychosocial support.
She said the department has looked into the matter and has resolved to provide access to psychologists and religious leaders at times of the healthcare workers’ need, although these will be in a centralized approach due to funding challenges.
She also made commitment to keep on absorbing all the contracted healthcare workers ultimately, who were hired during COVID-19, although she said this will be done in phases as and when funds for their full employment become available.
She said the Finance Minister made a personal commitment to her cellrecently that funds for the ultimate employment of all the contracted workers will be made available.
She also said her department will continue to translate all those who went to school, as well as acknowledged the backlog that needs to be dealt with to complete the translation of all the deserving nurses.
She wished all the nurses well on their month and assured them of her full support and continuous engagement with the national nursing association DENOSA on behalf of the nurses to tackle the nurses’ challenges in the workplace.