14 May 2018

Bakgatla Deputy Paramount Chief, Kgosi Bana Sekai has said nurses were the largest health care profession in the entire world and key to achieving millennium development goals. 

Kgosi Sekai said this on International Commemoration Day of Nurses hosted by the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) Kgatleng region under the theme; Nurse a Voice to Lead, Health is a Human Right, in Mochudi on May 12. 

He said it was imperative to celebrate nurses because they took care of people, from birth till the last days of life. 

Kgosi Sekai further said being a community leader, he pledged to work together with nurses to ensure the achievement of the best healthcare services. 

Further, he explained that nursing was a calling from God, hence the nation was blessed to be taken care of by people who were a blessing from above. 

He said nurses were part of the community and it was important to relate with them. 

Kgosi Sekai appreciated the commitment nurses had shown over the centuries. 

He pleaded with the community to respect and treat nurses with dignity in order to achieve an attainable goal. 

The BONU regional chairperson, Mr Kenosi Mogorosi said the International Council of Nurses (ICN) was at the forefront of advocating for access to health and nurses were the key to its delivery through BONU. 

“There are individuals in the community who are suffering from illnesses due to lack of accessible and affordable healthcare and as nurses we are advocates for them to enjoy their right,” he explained. 

Mr Mogorosi further said health was a human right that all humans were entitled to access at an affordable cost and at a time they needed it the most. 

He further said the right to health also applied to nurses and improved quality and safety for patients depended on a conducive working environment for staff. 

When laying out the objectives, Mr Tetlo Sebego, a principal registered nurse said the day was commemorated in honouring the pioneer of nursing, Florence Nightingale, who founded the profession of nursing. 

Mr Sebego said the day was also celebrated to recognise the significant contribution of nurses to the healthcare system worldwide. 

He further said nurses were available to meet people’s health needs, therefore their impact on the society was visible. 

Nevertheless, Mr Sebego said they faced challenges, but they do not stop them from doing the work they enjoy. 

He encouraged nurses to always give services and endure the challenges. 

“The community should also play their part by appreciating the work that is done by the nurses” he said. 

When giving a vote of thanks, chief nursing officer, Ms Khumo Modisaotsile said nurses should be proud of their profession as they take care of millions of people. 

She further said results attained by nurses are visible on the health schemes provided by government. 

Ms Modisaotsile said although they are faced with challenges, they work effortlessly to give the best service to their patients. 

She pleaded with the community to give them respect and treat them with dignity when seeking their assistance.  ENDS