‘Spirit of compassion’ must return
NURSES were urged to go back to the heart of the profession – compassion – as the province celebrated International Nurses’ Day yesterday.
The day is commemorated annually on May 12 but the province celebrated the day yesterday at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital (CMH).
The celebrations were held at CMH to unveil a new amphitheatre as well as announce that a statue of Makiwane – the first black registered professional nurse in South Africa – would be erected at the hospital.
Provincial health MEC Dr Phumza Dyantyi said yesterday was both a day of reflection and a time to celebrate the contribution of nurses.
“More often than not we are in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and we need to change that. We need to work on ways of how best we can contribute to restoring the former glory of the profession.
“I want all of us to be ambassadors of the profession because nursing is the backbone of the health system – even when we feel our contribution is not taken seriously.
“Nurses are the first and last contact for living humans – we birth babies and we shut the eyes of the deceased. We must be compassionate when dealing with our people,” Dyantyi said.
She said compassion and ethics could not be over-emphasised for nurses serving communities.
CMH CEO Dr Mthandeki Xhamlashe said they were proud to host the event.
“We also want to restore the relationship of the community members and our nurses. Currently the relationship is strained and distorted because when the two meet, the one is ill and the other feels overworked and unappreciated.
“We are proud to announce that this venue will be used for all nurses across the province to take their oath of office here.
“There will be a statue of Cecilia Makiwane erected here to ignite the passion of community service among our nurses,” he added.
Nontembiso Nyikana, a retired nurse, implored young nurses who had just entered the profession to focus on the nursing standards and ethical values of iconic nurses like Cecilia Makiwane and Florence Nightingale.
“Honour their legacy. Your contribution to the community is of utmost importance.
“Remember that nursing is a profession of compassion, advocacy and stewardship,” she said.
Yesterday at the event, there was a ceremony to honour nurses who had died.
Nurses symbolically lit candles to remember departed colleagues. —