Ontiretse Motingwa

The School of Nursing on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus recently joined the rest of the world in honouring the significant contribution that nurses make in people’s lives by celebrating International Nurses Day.

International Nurses Day is observed annually on 12 May to honour nurses for their hard work and dedication, and for being the backbone of the health care system despite working under stressful conditions.

The theme for celebrations on the Mahikeng Campus was “empowering young nurses”. Attendees of the event included representatives from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, the South African Police Service, and students and academic staff from the School of Nursing.

Prof Hunandi Rakhudu, a former academic from the School of Nursing, was the keynote speaker at the event.

She supported the theme by saying “nothing for us without us”, explaining that empowerment as nurses starts with self-empowerment.

“To be empowered as lecturers, we need to move away from teacher-centred teaching and learning to student-centred teaching and learning,” she added, emphasising that lecturers need to empower students for the 21st century.

Rethabile Mothobi, a nursing student representative, echoed Prof Rakhudu’s message. “Nurses are the eyes of those who cannot see, and the ears of those who cannot hear.”

Prof Hunandi Rakhudu was the keynote speaker during the International Nurses Day celebrations on the Mahikeng Campus.

From left are DMJ Ntooele, Reuben Molete, Prof Hunandi Rakhudu, Prof Salaminah Moloko and Dr Molekodi Matsipane.

Staff members of the School of Nursing and prestigious guests at the International Nurses Day event at the Mahikeng Campus.