Cape Town - Government has promised to give the country's health system a boost, with the revitalisation of nursing colleges, the hiring of qualified people and the country's HIV and Aids prevention campaigns.
Speaking after President Jacob Zuma delivered the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi admitted that the training of nurses had gone wrong.
He told BuaNews a summit, which would bring together 2 000 health professionals to discuss challenges faced in the sector, would be held in April this year. The conference would bring together retired nurses, universities and statutory bodies among others.
On the issue of hiring appropriate and qualified personnel to the right positions, Motsoaledi said he had the full backing of the President on the matter, adding that it was one of the areas that needed to be fixed as a matter of urgency. He added that the fact that R813 million had not been spent on infrastructure development in hospitals in various provinces, was unacceptable.
"It's a tough one but I have no choice. The people of South Africa deserve it [an improved health system]. If I were a nursing student, living in a dilapidated college and I knew that R813 million had not been spent, I would be very angry."
On government's HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) campaign, the minister said six million people had been tested thus far and the campaign was progressing well. He said the department would also target sectors such as farming and churches.
