Avoid toy-toying, nurses told
THATO CHWAANE
Staff Writer
| Friday June 13, 2008 00:00
Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) principal Seboifeng Matlhabaphiri said at the Nurses' Day commemoration held in Molepolole yesterday that the pledge they took should be internalised and they refrain from actions that might endanger the life and health of clients and damage the integrity of the nursing profession.
She noted that continued dissatisfaction by nurses and midwives and how they are treated compared to other health care cadres may affect successful implementation of health care services in the country.
The Nurses' Day's theme was: 'Delivery quality, serving communities; nurses leading primary health Care'.
Matlhabaphiri said that for primary health care to continue to excel, nurses and midwives' roles should not only be acknowledged verbally but must be demonstrated in how their issues are handled in relation to other members of the health care team.
She said there was a disparity between local and central government nurses that subject Ministry of Local Government nurses to stay in remote areas for a long time, thus denying them opportunities enjoyed by the latter.
She said often even student nurses are unwilling to opt for Local Government appointments.
Referring to government, Matlhabaphiri said as nurses and midwives they need to be handled with care and sensitivity by the ministries of Health and Local Government. 'They need to be handled with care, they are fragile,' she said to loud applause from the nurses.
Matlhabaphiri said that Botswana nurses more than any other health care professionals have been at the forefront of providing primary health care services to Batswana.
She said nurses and midwives have over the years been found where there are no doctors, obstetricians, pharmacists or pharmacy technicians and laboratory technicians, which have resulted in them diagnosing, treating, prescribing, dispensing and laboratory work as well as follow-up.
'This confirms that nurses are the backbone of the primary health care system in Botswana.'
She said more than any member of the health team, the nurses and midwives are accessible to the individual client, the community and population groups.
She noted there is a need for nurses to group themselves into private practice and run services that could make health care even more accessible.
Matlhabaphiri lamented that the nation continues to experience an exodus of nurses who leave for greener pastures in foreign countries leading to manpower shortages in Botswana. She said by doing so such nurses deprive Batswana of the right to quality health care.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Health Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said the nurses and midwives have been a pillar of strength to the health delivery system, commending them for the selfless sacrifices that they have been making.
He acknowledged the challenge they face of high patient workloads on a daily basis, adding that the government is committed to increasing the nurses- population ratio by boosting the output of trained nurses and to continuously improve the conditions of service.
He encouraged them to continue committing themselves to the provision of quality care to customers, as one way of ensuring that their welfare issues are always on top of government's agenda.
He, however, noted that there have been complaints about how nurses and health professionals receive and treat those in need of care.
'This begs the question that was asked earlier, whether you as nurses still uphold and adhere to the basic principles of nursing as articulated by the founders of the profession,' he said.