1. *****YEAR END NEWS TO NURSES*****
***PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A POST FROM SA LOCUMS, WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION
REGARDING THIS POST. IT IS MERELY AN INFO SHARING POST. ***
Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 – 2016/17
Foreword by the Minister of Health
"The Ministry of Health recognises the essential role of the nurses in achieving: “A long and a healthy life
for all South Africans”. Our country faces a quadruple burden of disease consisting of HIV and AIDS;
communicable diseases; non-communicable diseases; and violence and injuries with consequent high
levels of morbidity and mortality. The Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) for 2009 – 2014 has as
one
of its focus areas the improvement of the health profile of all South Africans.
Cognizant of the magnitude of the nursing challenges, in April 2011, the Department of Health called
together all the nurses of South Africa and other key stakeholders to the National Nursing Summit with
the aim to reconstruct and revitalise the Nursing Profession for a Long and Health Life for All South
Africans.
Major challenges facing the nursing profession, identified by the Summit, are categorised into the
following categories:
i. Nursing education and training;
ii. Resources in nursing;
iii. Professional ethos and ethics;
iv. Governance, leadership, legislation and policy;
v. Positive practice environments;
vi. Compensation, benefits and conditions of employment; and

2. vii. Nursing human resources for health.
The National Nursing Summit culminated in the Nursing Compact, which represents a summary of
collective decisions taken at the event. Against this background, I appointed a special Task Team to
develop a plan of action to address nurse education, training and practice by developing a Strategy for
Nurse Education, Training and Practice with an Implementation Plan.
I am pleased that the Ministerial Task Team has focused on the problems highlighted in the Nursing
Compact.
Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice 2012/13 – 2016/17
Through this nurse education, training and practice strategic plan, the reconstruction and revitalisation
of the nursing profession in South Africa will be strengthened. The strategy will ensure that our country
has nurses of high calibre who can contribute to addressing the healthcare needs of all South Africans. I
thank the special Ministerial Task Team for producing this Strategy for Nurse Education, Training and
Practice. Working in collaboration with the nine Provincial MECs for Health, I commit myself to
provide leadership and the necessary resources required to ensure the successful implementation of
this Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice. "