KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane welcomed the increased interest shown by men in the nursing profession. Picture: Supplied
Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has welcomed increased interest by men in the nursing profession.
Simelane said more male nurses means better health prospects for men.
The MEC said this during the KZN Department of Health nurses’ graduation ceremony this week where 195 nurses graduated.
Simelane welcomed the increased interest shown by men in the nursing profession, saying it will lead to more men becoming health-conscious and seeking help early when they are sick, instead of “persevering” until it’s too late, as many tend to do.
Simelane thanked all the young men keen on joining nursing.
“Nursing is a predominantly female profession, so we welcome the fact that, out of a total of 195 people who are graduating, 79 are male. I want all male nurse graduands and those who are already in the profession to know that we see, value, and appreciate them as well,” Simelane said.
She also thanked all men nurses “for playing an increasingly crucial role, not just within the healthcare setting, but in breaking down long-standing barriers that men face when it comes to seeking medical help”.
“As we all know, many men tend to be hesitant when it comes to visiting healthcare facilities. This is often due to fear, pride, or cultural pressures. As a result, they wait until diseases reach an advanced stage, which is a problem because by then, their ailments are more difficult to treat or manage. And they may lose their lives unnecessarily. But your presence in this field is what will help change these mindsets,” Simelane continued.
“We believe that, by being on the front line, our male nurses have the opportunity to create a space where men in general can feel more encouraged to seek medical care, knowing they’ll be better understood and cared for.”
The MEC said the time had come for all men to realise that it is not only okay but important to take care of their health, ask for help and be vulnerable when necessary.
“It is certainly not a sign of weakness,” Simelane said.
Simelane also acknowledged all the young men who heeded the call she made last year, that more men should enter the nursing profession.
“We have certainly seen an increase in the number of applications. However, for now, many of them do not meet the requirements, including doing mathematics, life science or physical science, and life orientation, among others, at high school level. We urge those who have an interest in the nursing profession to align themselves accordingly,” Simelane said.
Of the group that graduated, 86 completed a Diploma in Nursing, which is made up of General Nursing, Psychiatric, Community Nursing, and Midwifery (R-425 course). A further 109 nurses graduated with a Diploma in General Nursing, which is a three-year programme that enables them to register with the South African Nursing Council as General Nurses (R-171 course).
Additionally, of the total graduates, 159 are entering the workforce for the first time, with 79 of them being men.
"As a department, we are extremely pleased to announce that our overall pass rate in 2023 was 97%, which is an improvement from 96% in 2022, and 94% in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are especially proud of RK Khan Campus, which achieved the highest pass rate at 99%. Benedictine Campus followed closely with 98.5%, and Addington Campus with 98%,” said Simelane on Thursday.
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