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South Africa: Healthcare Workers Vital for a Healthy Province
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
25 July 2008
Posted to the web 25 July 2008
Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg
Gauteng is in need of efficient healthcare professionals to ensure the province's people are healthy and productive.
Speaking at the Youth Careers Expo in Johannesburg on Thursday, Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa said in terms of the province's development, one could not ignore the importance of health and health professionals.
"Health is a co-determinant of human development, when countries are evaluated on how far they have developed, health is used as one of the indicators," Mr Hlongwa explained.
The department invited 2000 Grade 11 and 12 learners to a Career's Expo to expose them to career opportunities in the health sector.
Mr Hlongwa said the department hoped to encourage more young people to join the public health sector especially.
He told the youth that this was a profession which gave equal opportunities to all genders just as the safety and security profession.
He joked that even the men who worked as nurses needed strong stomachs to deal with patients who were sick or injured.
"In cases of trauma and in the Accident and Emergency Units, you will encounter blood but there are many areas of Health Care that do not involve blood and body fluids," Mr Hlongwa said.
Principal Medical Officer at the Baragwanath Hospital, Dr Nana Moabi said there was a lot of work and few labourers in the profession, hence a need for young people who are full of energy to contribute in making a difference in South Africa.
She said that the greatest passion brings health to the people noting that health is not a commodity but must be generated within.
"There is a need for especially black specialists, we don't have a black female nuclear physician, so come on girls, there is a challenge for you," Ms Moabi told learners.
Speaking to BuaNews, Yolanda Sonqishe, who is doing Grade 12 at the Boitumelong High School in Tembisa said she had always wanted to be a nurse and the expo has helped her gain access to opportunities in the industry.
"Helping people is my passion, especially the elders. I want to be a nurse and give back to my community and their health is my priority," said Yolanda.
Her classmate Sifiso Zimba, also in Grade 12 said that nursing was about passion and patience because one deals with the health of people.
"Next year, I'll be pursuing a career in health, it's not about gender but passion and love for the people," he said.
The department has taken concrete steps to address the challenges of recruitment and retention and the shortage of health professionals.
Mr Hlongwa said: "It is important that we continue to recruit those who will dedicate themselves to ensuring that our nation remains healthy.
"It is our responsibility as government to ensure that we equip our people with skills that will open up career opportunities in the public health sector."
In the past three years, the department has spent R42 million on bursaries.
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The bursaries are aimed at helping fund students who are studying to qualify as medical doctors, physiotherapists, dentists, pharmacists, environmental health officers, social workers, clinical technologists and dieticians among others.
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