The City of Cape Town Health Services says nursing staff at its clinics have managed to reduce child mortality rates through different interventions. Nurses working for the City of Cape Town health services have been honoured with certificates for long service to mark International Nurses Day which is being celebrated on the 12th of May each year.

The event took place at Chapel Street Clinic in Woodstock and similar events are being planned throughout the province.

The nurses honoured on Thursday are from clinics in Wesbank, Luvuya in Makhaza, Manenberg and Valhalla Park as well as Chapel Street Clinic in Woodstock.

Sixty-year-old Glenda Wright has 35 years’ experience and she was inspired by her mother, who was a nurse, and her sister also works in the health care sector.

“I am extremely honoured that City Council has shown me the honour. I feel like I represent all of our nurses who work so hard in our facilities as well and it’s extremely important that it’s recognised.”

Her colleague, a Nursing Assistant in Khayelitsha, 62-year-old Nomahlubi Tyutu, boasts 31 years of unbroken service and she also comes from a family of nursing professionals.

“The problem it’s just to like what you are doing and when you go out of your house. You know what you are coming to do. That is all; it’s the only thing you know and you like what you do. If you like your work then everything is going fine.”

Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security and Social Services, JP Smith, says the nurses’ work under difficult conditions.

The Manager of the City’s Health Services, Dr Andile Zimba, says honouring the nurses is a token of appreciation for the hard work done.

The Western Cape government also plans to launch a Provincial Nursing Strategy to coincide with the International Nurses Day.

[Source: SABC News]