As the world marks Nurses Day this month, this annual anniversary has shone a sharp spotlight on the realities facing this group of South African heroes and heroines. With many battling burnout, bracing for further staff shortages and trying to find ways to absorb the impact of global funding cuts, Fundi is inviting the country to get behind our nurses and celebrate their daily untold contribution to our local communities.
Recent announcements by the United States to slash foreign aid to global health programmes (including PEPFAR, which funds major HIV initiatives in South Africa) sent shockwaves through our local healthcare sector.
“For nurses already stretched to breaking point, this was yet another blow,” notes Mary Maponya, Fundi Executive Head: Lending. “This isn’t just about money disappearing from a spreadsheet. It’s about support being taken from clinics, treatment delays growing longer and nurses being asked to pick up even more of the slack. We need to acknowledge that nurses are the pulse of public healthcare in South Africa – and that pulse is under pressure.”
Maponya says this is why it was so important for Fundi to find ways to add its voice of thanks and appreciation for nurses this month – including sponsoring and attending Denosa events in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. “Department of Health employees make up 16% of our total loan book, with a high proportion of these being nurses,” she explains. “They are a growing sector; continuously investing in their own self-development as a means of deepening their vocations and contribution.”
Fundi’s presence at these events made it possible to engage meaningfully with nurses on the ground; building relationships and understanding how best to continue to provide support around career advancement in particular.
“We are also be running a social media campaign until 23 May where frontline nurses can win free lunch for the week – with Uber Eats delivering it straight to their workplace to lighten the load. Small acts of kindness and appreciation make all the difference,” says Maponya. “And that’s exactly what we’re hoping this campaign will do!”
According to the South African Nursing Council, South Africa has just over 280 000 registered nurses[1], with many nearing retirement age. Meanwhile, nurse emigration is accelerating as we struggle to keep our local nurses employed and supported[2]. “It is estimated that our country will need over 100 000 new nurses by 2030 to maintain even basic healthcare coverage[3],” Maponya explains. “With the bulk of patient care still falling on nurses – from vaccinations and chronic disease management to trauma response – the pressure on these individuals is relentless.”
Amid these systemic failings, one thing is clear however: South Africa’s nurses continue showing up with grace and courage. “This was perhaps the most important take-out from the DENOSA engagement. Our nurses show-up each day – safeguarding the life and health of their patients. These remarkable individuals remain our first line of defence during pandemics, pregnancies, mental health emergencies and more. If we want a healthier South Africa, we must protect the protectors. We need to continue investing in our nurses not just during Nurses Month, but every single day,” she concludes.
[2] https://www.nursingservices.co.za/news/addressing-south-africas-nursing-shortage
[3] https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/nursing-in-sa-is-changing-but-is-it-enough-to-avert-an-anticipated-crisis-20240928
