Nurses in South Africa observe National Women’s Day

In South Africa, the 9th of August is National Women’s Day (not to be confused with International Women’s Day, observed 8 March). It commemorates 9 August 1956, when women participated in a national march to petition against “pass laws,” legislation that required non-whites to carry a document to “prove” they were allowed to enter a “white area.” A protest song composed in honour of the occasion declared, “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo!” Translated, “You strike a woman, you strike a rock!” (This has nothing to do with nurses that strike!)

National Women’s Day celebrates women’s courage and strength. Similarly, nurses are viewed as the backbone of health care delivery systems. On this day, nurses should reflect on what they have accomplished and what else they must do to ensure health for all in the community and in their own lives.

One week before National Women’s Day, nurses in South Africa celebrated at the 2011 Annual Nursing Education Conference at Sun City (see previous post). You will never believe it—Karen Morin, the president of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), was a keynote speaker! The conference alerted nurse educators to changes implicit in national and international trends, legislation and agendas. Through debate, competence building and information, they were also introduced to changes they are facing in their own educational practice. Workshops were offered, one of which focused on scientific writing for beginners. This session was attended by STTI President Morin and Address Malata of Malawi, president of STTI’s Tau Lambda at Large Chapter.

Nurse leaders at the Annual Nursing Education Conference in Sun City

included: (front, l-r) Christa van der Walt, RN, RM, RNE, RNA, RCN,

University of the North West; Karen Morin, DSN, RN, ANEF, president

of STTI; Address Malata, MScN, PhD, president of Tau Lambda at

Large Chapter; and (back) Karien Jooste, MA Cur, DLitt, RGN, RCN, RM,

RNE, RNA, University of the Western Cape; and Gisela van Rensburg,

MA Cur, University of South Africa.

Nursing students take National Women’s Day in South Africa very seriously. The Nursing, Social Work and Natural Medicine students at the University of the Western Cape held their annual Women’s Day event in Grabouw (near Cape Town), also on 9 August. Last year was the first time that nursing students initiated this event, and the community decided it must take place annually. (See poster and brochure below.)

Worldwide, nurses (mostly women) are becoming more involved in the political arena to influence national health agendas. (I have also observed the trend of more males entering the nursing profession in South Africa.) Although partaking in top-level matters is very important, we should not lose the soul of our profession. Till the next National Women’s Day, we should continue to impact positively the lives of the community, in which a number of challenges still remain. Let’s focus on attitudes and practices that could manifest themselves positively, particularly for women.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.