UWC School of Nursing and CHS Faculty Commemorate Nurses’ Day with Celebration
“The pandemic stole many people from us, and as the world was in this crisis, they looked at the nurses for the sake of global health. Today, we are celebrating the profession simply because nurses can so easily forget about themselves because they are usually only caring and looking out for their patients.”
With these words, Mr Khayalethu Wapo, a staff member at the School of Nursing at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) set the tone of the day at the International Nurses’ Day celebration this week. The day is celebrated annually on the Friday closest to Florence Nightingale’s birthday on 12 May.
Professor Jennifer Chipps from the UWC’s School of Nursing referred to nurses as the backbone and respiratory system of society, and highlighted the Nurses’ Day theme for 2024 – Our Nurse Our Future.
Prof Chipps delivered a presentation on the value of nurse leadership and said: “Nurse leadership is vital to improve patient outcomes, and we need to value, protect, respect, and invest in our nurses and nurse leaders”.
She shared that South Africa has a critical shortage of nurses, and is faced with an ageing nurse population, highlighting the need for the country to appoint more nurses.
“We don’t all need to be ‘heroic leaders’, but we must be the best ethical nurses we can be; continue to act as informal leaders, aim to lead others through servant and relational leadership and be the leaders in our profession who guide the health sector through the current changes we face.”
The event featured guests from sister universities in Cape Town as well as Professor Nomafrench Mbombo, the Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC and delegates from the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH).
Prof Mbomobo was the keynote speaker and discussed global health and health in the South African context, reminding nurses to be alert to what is happening internationally.
“The wars that we see in Gaza and Syria have an impact on our health system too. The availability and cost of medical supplies and escalating food prices affect our patient care in a negative way.”
The UWC’s nursing programme is one of the largest undergraduate programmes in the country – offering mainstream and extended curriculum programmes.
The School of Nursing is a key pillar in achieving this much-needed community engagement and service on behalf of the university, making a positive impact beyond its campus borders through a series of outreach activities aimed at promoting community health.
Every year students conduct key initiatives such as leading a vaccination drive during the COVID-19 pandemic and conducting outreach work such as cardiovascular risk assessments. These take place In the neighbourhoods of Bellville, Fisantekraal, and Klipheuwel in the Western Cape.
These screenings help identify potential risk factors for heart disease and empower community members to take proactive steps toward better heart health.
The School has active collaborations with the UWC Dental Faculty oral hygienists in a project providing oral health education, preventive measures, and screenings to local residents. This interdisciplinary approach ensures holistic care for the community.
The entertainment by the Creative Arts Choir, Centre for Performing Arts Jazz Combo Ensemble and skits by second and second-year extended curriculum nursing students were the audience’s favourite highlights of the event.