The Department of Nursing at the Durban University of Technology recently celebrated International Nurses Day at the DUT Open House Building where professional nurses employed at DUT as well as students studying towards the profession were reminded of the importance of caring for their patients.
The event was attended by DUT nursing lecturers as well as professional nurses working at the institution. Addressing the nurses, Dr Nokuthula Sibiya, the Nursing Head of Department at DUT said the aim of the celebration was to commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale, who cared for the sick and wounded, was born on May 12, 1820. This year’s theme was Closing the Gap: Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).
Dr Sibiya said caring is key in nursing. “It is not a mistake that you are a nurse. You make a difference in people’s lives. Go out there and make a difference. As the ICN (International Council of Nurses) puts, it nurses are often the only health professionals accessible to many people in their lifetime. Nurses are particularly well placed and often the most innovative in reaching underserved and disadvantaged populations and they have done much towards the achievement of MDGs and to help shape and deliver sustainable goals and outcomes beyond 2015,” said Dr Sibiya.
Thembelihle Ngxongo, DUT Primary Healthcare Lecturer said in order to achieve the MDGs, it is important to educate people about HIV/AIDS, TB as well as break dangerous myths such as the belief that sleeping with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS. “Education is vital to make sure those who are HIV negative stay negative and how those who are positive can protect others from getting infected. If we don’t do that, we will be failing in our duty,” she said.
Ngxongo said people should not die while waiting for HIV test results. “There is a huge number of enrolling pregnant women, children and the community at large into the antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in order to save our nation from dying of HIV and AIDS related illnesses”, said Ngxongo.
Another DUT Primary Healthcare Lecturer, Dudu Sokhela, advised nurses on how they can screen children for possible TB infections. She also stressed the importance of putting children exposed to TB and HIV on prophylactic treatment, which is given for six months.
– Nkosinathi Wanda
Pictured: Front row L-R: Babusisiwe Khumalo, Dudu Sokhela, Thandeka Bhengu, Padmini Pillay and Thembelihle Ngxongo. Back Row L-R: Ningi Mashoba, Nelisiwe Zondi, Thamsanqa Mthabela, Ayisha Razak, Gloria Sibisi, Dr Nokuthula Sibiya, Dr Petro Basson and Caidah Ngubane.
