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Thabo Mothibi, Managing Editor, thabo@ncnn.live
The Northern Cape’s Health MEC Fufe Makatong has welcomed the intake of 90 nursing students that are set to undertake a four (4) year comprehensive nursing training. Speaking to NCNN.LIVE, MEC Makatong said the intake which is the largest ever is a boost for the roll-out of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in the province.
Apart from the intake being a shot in the arm for the NHI which seeks to enforce quality health care for all, MEC Makatong also indicated that the Northern Cape has always had a shortage of nurses.
“We had to be deliberate in ensuring that we begin to address the challenges that we faced as a province of the shortage of nurses at our facilities. That is basically why we had to increase the numbers. We will also be having another intake in January (2019), we at this point still envisaging to stick to 60 but we are working on plans to see if we cannot sustain the number of 90 going forward,” explained MEC Makatong.
Painfully; previous intakes were beset by lack of clinical support, accommodation and high failure rates amongst the bursary recipients.
Acting principal of the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College Dr Herman Willemse said the college has enhanced its staffing. “We have the additional 17 staff members and with a focus in clinical, psychological and social work support.”
Dr Willemse indicated that clinical support will be a boost for the clinical environment that the students are to be faced with upon completion of the four year course. He also added that 20 of the students have previous nursing experience.
MEC Makatong politely implored the nursing students to keep their noses to the grindstone during their time of study at the college and her appeal appeared to have made an impression.
“I am excited and looking forward to being a nurse and helping other people. Hence I will stay focused, achieve as much as I can academically and ensure that I become successful not only for myself but the community from where I come from,” enthused Didintle Appolus from Bothitong village near Kuruman.
And Siyabonga Siheya of Hanover was equally optimistic; “I am also excited, this will enhance my background and will also allow me to make a difference in our communities through health care.”
Nursing union, Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) representatives were also at hand in support of the MEC’s welcoming of the future Cecilia Makiwanes, Henrietta Stockdales and Bettie Gaetsewes, upon whom the Northern Cape people’s health care is depended upon.
By Thabo Mothibi
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Thabo Mothibi is a former broadcast journalist (TV and Radio) – with specialist reporting experience; SABC Political/Parliamentary and TRC Teams over a period of five years (1995 to 2000).
One key foreign assignment - is the 11-nation African Connection Rally – overland journey from Africa’s northern-most pole in the coastal Tunisian city of Bizerte to the southern-most pole in South Africa’s Cape Agulhas. From the journalistic years, Thabo then delved into Government media liaison and serving two former Ministers and three MECs. He became the Northern Cape Provincial Government’s first department based Communications Director at Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development - 2008-2010 – where he also served as Head of Ministry from 2003 – 2008.
As a former anti-apartheid activist, his political background and professional training aided him in spearheading the Northern Cape ANC’s 2004 National Elections media and publicity campaign and that of the 2006 Local Government Elections.
Whilst based in Waterkloof in Pretoria -2010 to end 2011, he consulted for Manstrat Agricultural Intelligence, then returned to the Northern Cape in 2012 to date, to consult independently and pursue other entrepreneurial interests in media and communications through KwaVuko Communications and Marketing.
Thabo Mothibi obtained his NQF7 through Wits University’s Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) in Johannesburg, a Unilever Mandela Rhodes Academy for Marketing and Communications Academy (UMRA). The goal of the NQF7 programme was to educate and train public and private sector professional communicators and marketers in government communications..
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