Manto: Involve nurses
2007-10-04 21:04
Johannesburg - Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Thursday that there had been a noticeable decline in HIV infections among mothers-to-be and nurses needed to put in more effort if regional plans and programmes were to succeed.
"Nurses could define the direction of the health policy," the minister said.
She said in a speech read on her behalf to delegates at the Southern African Development Community Aids Network of Nurses and Midwives Conference: "It is important that nursing associations be involved in policy formulation and programme planning to ensure equitable and accessible health services.
"Nurses and midwives must have leverage with government and put forward a nursing perspective to influence policies on health systems.
"Nurses and midwives form 70% of the global health care workforce. They present an essential force to ensure success of any health care policy."
- SAPA