‘Outstanding’ Northern Cape nurses honoured
NURSES from the Northern Cape were honoured with awards on the last day of Nurses’ Month.
The Northern Cape MEC for Health, Fufe Makatong, handed over the Pioneer and Cecilia Makiwane awards to the two best “outstanding nominees” for their “immense contributions and dedication to the nursing profession over the years”.
The awards ceremony was held in Upington on Thursday and attended by the ZF Mgcawu District municipal mayor, Abram Vosloo, the 2nd vice president of the International Nursing Council, Thembeka Gwagwa, the deputy Speaker of the provincial legislature, Juanita Beukes, and the leadership of Denosa in the Northern Cape.
This award ceremony forms part of an ongoing international celebration for nurses under the theme, “Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human Right”.
This year’s theme celebrates the day-to-day work of nurses in progressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – including ending poverty, increasing gender equality and improving access to health care.
Makatong used the occasion to inspire confidence and to appreciate the good work done by nurses in the Province.
“We understand that saying thank you is never enough, hence through our deliberations we came up with two great initiatives, namely the Nursing Pioneers Award as well as the Cecilia Makiwane Award, which this year will honour and recognise our nurses. We are also looking into introducing the Pelotlhomogi Nurse of the Month Award.
“We celebrate you because you are mothers and fathers, social workers, doctors and everything for patients in your care.
Courage
“We thank you for your courage in the face of attacks by those who lack the appreciation of the unbearable conditions you sometimes find yourselves in.
“We acknowledge that you are not only instrumental in preserving lives, but remain key towards us achieving the vision of ‘a long and healthy life for all South Africans’,” Makatong said.
Edna van Wyk from Raaswater Clinic in ZF Mgcawu District walked away with the Cecilia Makiwane Award as the Nurse of the Year and Beukes received the Pioneer Award.