Nurses from Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health and other partner organisations gathered at the AHRI Somkhele Research Campus on Sunday, May 12 to celebrate International Nurses Day.
The 2019 theme was ‘Nurses: Delivering healthcare with mindfulness’. A candle was lit as a representation of the symbolic lamp, and nurses took the Nurses’ Pledge to serve with conscience and dignity.
“Our increasing clinical research agenda is highly dependent on well trained nurses to ensure that research protocols are implemented to a high standard, and that research participants are protected. We are also keen to offer such nurses the opportunity to themselves develop their research careers. I would like to applaud our nursing staff on this important day,” said AHRI Director, Prof Deenan Pillay.
Guest speaker, the Department of Health’s Zululand District Clinical Programmes Manager Linda Dlamini, emphasised in her address the importance of ensuring that KZN has a high calibre of health staff, who are proud of their roles in the community and continuously strive for greatness.
“Being a nurse does not mean you have reached the ceiling. I challenge nurses to write and research. Write about our stories, the work we do; that is how our profession will grow,” Dlamini added
Congratulations to Cabangeni Shange for winning the Mama Dudu Biyela Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, which is voted on by nursing colleagues, seeks to honour a nurse who has given exemplary service and is a role model to others.
“The Mama Dudu Biyela Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a nurse who goes the extra mile and is a role model. But above all they conform to the nurses’ pledge of service when he/she serves research participants and patients within the community where we conduct our research,” said AHRI Research Nursing Manager Siphephelo Dlamini.
“I am honoured to receive this award today; I wasn’t expecting it at all. I would like to thank my colleagues and AHRI management for deeming me worthy of this award. I would also encourage them to keep doing the work we do with love and respect,” said Shange.