Thread by @DrZweliMkhize

Today, we cautiously but optimistically breathe a sigh of relief as we continue to see our detected cases, hospital admissions, deaths and even excess deaths declining. Our recovery rate is now almost at 90% and our mortality rate has remained stable at around 2% #SPNPConference

Mothers affected by COVID-19 have given birth to healthy babies. They are breastfeeding and physically bonding with their children, laying foundations for wholesome upbringing and solid building blocks for a healthy and prosperous society. #SPNPConference

These Herculean achievements have been possible because of the passion, dedication and sheer diligence of our nurses and midwives. #SPNPConference

We thank you for braving the threat of being infected yourself, and even of death. To date, over 31,000 health care workers, many of them nurses and midwives, have contracted Coronavirus and we have tragically lost 240 colleagues. #SPNPConference

May I convey my heartfelt condolences for the loss of your co-workers, friends, family and loved ones.#SPNPConference

By shining a spotlight on the state of Nursing and Midwifery, the WHO catalysed a series of events to galvanize worldwide action for focused and purposeful health systems strengthening through fortifying human resources for health. #SPNPConference

In December last year I had the privilege of launching the  #NursingNow campaign- a three year campaign initiated by the global nursing community with the sole objective of improving health care delivery to our people.
 #SPNPConference

To recap, the five key areas focus for the #NursingNow global campaign are:  
• Ensuring that nurses and midwives have a more prominent voice in health policy-making
 
• Encouraging greater investment in the nursing workforce;
 
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• Recruiting more nurses into leadership positions;
 
• Conducting research that helps determine where nurses can have the greatest impact and
 
• Sharing of best nursing practices
 #SPNPConference

Indeed, these key focus points align perfectly with the objectives of the Presidential Health Compact, The Quality Improvement Plan and, ultimately, the National Health Insurance.#SPNPConference

I must congratulate the provinces for collectively employing 13 135 nurses across the categories during this time. Now that they have proven that it is possible to achieve such numbers in such a short space of time. #SPNPConference

The Department of Health will very soon publish the STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR NURSING EDUCATION AND PRACTICE which outlines a roadmap for strengthening nursing and midwifery in South Africa for the next five years.#SPNPConference

I am pleased to say that much work has been done to promulgate and subsequently proclaim various sections of the Nursing Act. #SPNPConference

I with to express my humble gratitude to the nursing community for making my job easier as Minister of Health. I want assure you that I share your aspirations of a better world through the work that we do to secure a healthy population for quality of life and prosperity for all.