Press Release 2/2020: SANC offers free restoration to qualifying nurses during COVID-19 National State of Disaster

SANC offers free restoration to qualifying nurses during COVID-19 National State of Disaster


20 April 2020

The SANC notes and applauds the efforts by Government and in particular the Ministry of Health in the fight against the coronavirus, and the dedication to the health of all South Africans.

In support of these efforts, the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is pleased to announce a further solution to have more nurses available to assist during the crisis. Any nurse, who for the period of the COVID-19 National State of Disaster, wants to be restored back onto the Nurse Register for the sole purpose of rendering services and aiding in the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 or the treatment of affected patients, and is currently not on the Nursing Register, may restore and be registered at a fee of R0.00.

The Board Notice regarding this special concession was published in the Government Gazette on 9 April already, but it was important that the process had to be communicated by the Department of Health on provincial level first to ensure a stream-lined and simplified restoration process. Thus said, it is important to note that this process of restoration for the said period will be done via the relevant departments e.g. Department of Health, Department of Correctional Services and South African Military Health Services. Nurses cannot restore individually for this process. The SANC has created a simplified restoration form to assist the respective departments with the process. Upon completion of the form, the departments will then provide same to the SANC with a list of all the nurses to be restored for the National State of Disaster period only. The completed form, available on the SANC website, must be submitted to the respective Provincial Departments of Health together with application sent in response to the advertisement.

Says the SANC Registrar and CEO, Ms Sizo Mchunu: “It is important that nurses note that this is an exception to the normal restoration rules and that this restoration will expire at the end of the National State of Disaster, as will be pronounced by the President of South Africa. These Nurses’ names will then be removed from the Register and the normal restoration process and fees will then apply for those who choose to remain registered in order to practice nursing.”

The SANC calls for calm and patience on the side of the public during this outbreak and implores the public to keep in mind that nurses work long hours and under gruelling pressure during this outbreak while at the same time they also have families that they worry about.

If we all make a concerted effort, together, we will be able to #flattenthecurve.


.. COVID-19 Restoration Form

Press Release 1/2020 Nurses are at the forefront of the Coronavirus

Press Release 1/2020:  Nurses are at the forefront of the Coronavirus

19 March 2020

TO:News Editor
FROM:Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO

 

SANC: Nurses are at the forefront of the Coronavirus

The coronavirus outbreak is escalating and the burden on the healthcare system is increasing daily. Nurses are at the forefront of the healthcare system and therefore also of this outbreak, and crucial in combating this virus. The South African Nursing Council (SANC) would like to commend all nurses responsible for caring for those infected and dealing with long queues to assist patients.

 

Generally, Nurses are educated and trained in principles, guidelines and protocols regarding infection prevention and control and these continue to apply, regardless of the type of infection. However, employers remain responsible for, and are urged, to keep supporting nurses and providing additional supplies for infection control.

 

The SANC also implores employers to ensure that nurses have personal protective equipment (PPE) and access to running water to assist them to safely execute their duties. As the backbone of healthcare it is imperative that we protect the nursing staff as this will assist in curbing the spread of the virus and sustaining a healthy workforce.

 

The SANC calls on the public to keep nurses in mind and in their prayers – they are at risk and exposed, work long hours, deal with long queues and work under difficult circumstances while their own families are at home coping with the outbreak by themselves.

 

The public is reminded to always adhere to the following outbreak prevention guidelines: Maintain your distance from other people, wash your hands as per the approved protocol, sanitize your hands, do not cough or sneeze into your hands and do not touch your face. If you do suspect that you are infected please remember to dial the hotline numbers first, as going to a hospital or clinic directly means you are placing others at risk of infection. These hotline numbers are operational 24-hours a day: 0800 029 999 and 0800 111 132.

 

We call for calm. If we all work together and follow the guidelines, we will assist in curbing the spread.

Press Rel 9/2018

Press Rel 9/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: Shortage of nurses and the new nursing curriculum
  23 October 2018


The South African Nursing Council (SANC) notes with concern the article published in the media recently and its factually incorrect information that has been disseminated to the public and the nursing fraternity.

 

The SANC would like to clarify the statements made in these articles, with these facts:

The curriculum submissions that the SANC has received so far, have been and continue to be evaluated and some have also served at meetings of internal structures of the SANC. These applications have been received from Universities, Public Colleges and private nursing schools. It is therefore factually incorrect that ”South Africa will soon have a shortage of nurses due to the dragging of feet/dawdling in approving a new curriculum”. The public and the profession is misled by such incorrect information.

 

The matter of “nurses will no longer be able to train at provincial training colleges”, is disputable. Factually, some Public Nursing Colleges have submitted their programmes to the SANC and the process of evaluation towards accreditation is underway.

 

The information provided stating that “there are only six other private institutions that are currently running private programmes” is factually incorrect. There is about sixty four (64) private institutions (including private hospital groups) that are currently offering nursing programmes in South Africa.

 

The following information in the articles is also incorrect: “The new act makes provision for a new category of nurse – a general nurse”.

The Act Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No 33 of 2005) makes provision for the following categories:

Professional Nurse
Midwife
Staff nurse (general nurses
Auxiliary nurse OR
Auxiliary Midwife (There will be no qualifications for this category).

 

Nurse Specialist and Midwife Specialist categories were created through a board notice published by the Minister of Health in the Government Gazette No. 368 of 15 May 2014 – Notice regarding the creation of categories of practitioners in terms of section 31(2) of the Nursing Act, 2005.

 

Ms Sizeni Mchunu, CEO and Registrar of the SANC says: “It is regrettable that the public and the nursing fraternity have been misled and provided with factually incorrect information by persons who may not be well vested with these issues. Non-approval of submitted curriculums that do not comply with the minimum requirements does not constitute delays by the SANC.”

 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 

Press Rel 8/2018

Press Rel 8/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: 2018 World Stroke Day
  22 October 2018


A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells can be damaged or die, depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly the person is treated. The effects of stroke on survivors can be devastating to a person’s body, mobility and speech as well as how they think and feel. 

 

The World Stroke Organization reports that around 80 million people in the world today have experienced a stroke and over 50 million survivors live with some form of permanent disability as a result.

 

The South African Nursing Council will be joining the world in the commemoration of World Stroke Day on 29 October 2018. Ms Sizo Mchunu, Registrar and CEO says: “The SANC, as the governing body of the nursing profession and nursing education, would like to urge the public and nurses alike to make sure that they act fast if they suspect that someone has symptoms of a stroke as the ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke can mean the difference between life and death. Look out for the following signs and symptoms: droop or uneven smile, arm numbness or weakness, slurred speech, vision troubles, and overall fatigue.” 

 

Six key facts about stroke treatment:

  •  
Early recognition makes a big difference,
  •  
Around one in ten more people make an excellent recovery when cared for in a specialized unit, 
  •  
Clot-busting drugs (TPA or Thromolysis) increase the chance of a good outcome by 30%, 
  •  
Clot retrieval treatment increases the chance of a good outcome by more than 50%, 
  •  
Rehabilitation is a critical step in treatment process, and 
  •  
One in four survivors will have another stroke. 

 

A stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, and at any age. Save a life by knowing what signs and symptoms to look for and act immediately.

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 

  

Press Rel 7/2018

Press Rel 7/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: SANC Virtual Office to assist nurse in nine provinces
  31 August 2018


The South African Nursing Council’s (SANC) virtual office for nurses will be operating again in nine provinces, starting on 3 September 2018.

 

Says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, Acting Registrar of the SANC: “The purpose of the SANC Virtual Office is to bring limited walk-in services such as payment of annual fees, selling of distinguishing devices, providing information related to the SANC, etc. to the nurses’ doorstep and thus eliminating the need for them to travel to Pretoria.”

The services that will be offered at the Virtual Office include:


PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES OTHER SERVICES

Nurses are requested to provide the SANC officials with their SANC reference numbers rather than ID numbers for the processing of annual fees payments.
There is no limitation for the number of people you can pay for. However, one must ensure that the daily limit is increased with their respective banks.
The SANC further requests nurses to avoid using more than one bank card for payments because that delays the process. It would be appreciated / better if they deposit the money into one person’s account to save time.
If a person has paid at the bank already, the outreach staff cannot print their Annual Practising Certificates (APCs) as these will be sent to the nurses through the post. They will only be processing payments done on the day of the outreach.
Restorations cannot be processed immediately and any payment received for restoration will only be processed by the SANC head office after the visit. Proof of payment in the form of a white receipt will be provided and the original Annual Practising Certificate will follow later.

SELLING OF DISTINGUISHING DEVICES

The quantity of distinguishing devices will be limited to ONE pair per person. Nurses are also requested to bring their original green identity books/smart cards for verification.
If a nurse is buying on behalf of his or her colleague, he/she must also bring his/her original green identity book.
If a nurse is buying on behalf of his or her colleague, the distinguishing devices form must be completed, on both sides, and signed by the owner. Please note that if the form is incorrectly completed, the request WILL NOT be processed.
The owner must attach the certified copy of his or her ID and the quantity will be limited to one pair only if buying for someone else.
If a person has ordered the distinguishing devices through the bank, Outreach staff cannot issue that order, it will be sent through the post.

The provincial outreach plan for 2018 is published below – be sure to diarise the dates!
 

Provinces Kwa Zulu- Natal North West Eastern Cape Northern Cape Western Cape Free State Limpopo Mpumalanga Gauteng
Days allocated 10 5 8 5 8 5 8 5 8
Week 1 3-7 Sept 10-14 Sept 26-28 Sept 8-12 Oct 15-19 Oct 22-26 Oct 5-7 Nov 12-16 Nov 28-30 Nov
Week 2 17-21 Srpt N/A 1-5 Oct N/A 31 Oct-2 Nov N/A 19-23 Nov N/A 3-7 Dec


Says Ms Mchunu: “Nursing practitioners are afforded six (6) months to pay their annual fee (from 1 July to 31 December every year). It is important to note that this annual fee is due by 31 December. If you pay it electronically into the SANC bank account on 31 December, the chances are it will not reflect in time – please keep this in mind when making payments, as failure to meet this deadline will mean that nurses will have to pay a restoration fee as promulgated by law. The SANC would like to reiterate that its eRegister is and remains sufficient proof for an employer to check if nursing practitioners are registered for the relevant year.” 

 

ENDS

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on  email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 
                                                                     

Press Rel 6/2018

Press Rel 6/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: 2018 World Hepatitis Day
  25 July 2018


Hepatitis causes more than one million deaths a year and is one of the largest global health threats of our time.

 

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and causes two in every three liver cancer deaths. There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. Types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.

 

Typical symptoms of Hepatitis can include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and yellow skin and eyes.

 

World hepatitis day is on 28 July 2018 and aims to create awareness about Hepatitis and the importance of being tested and treated. There are over 300 million people that are living with viral hepatitis in the world, yet up to 290 million of these are unaware that they have this virus.

The 2018 theme petitions us to test for the virus to eliminate the millions of people living unknowingly with Hepatitis, and reminds those that are on treatment to adhere to their treatment plans. The South African Nursing Council would like to encourage the public to go for hepatitis testing even if they have do not have any of the symptoms mentioned as testing is the only means of knowing if you are infected.
We also urge nurses to continue with their efforts in combating the spread of this deadly disease and exercise the necessary caution when treating infected patients,” says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, SANC Registrar.

Remember: Testing is the only way to know if you are infected – Test, then Treat.

 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council


For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426 -9542 or  email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za
 

Press Rel 5/2018

Press Rel 5/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: 2018 International Nurse Day – Nurses also have a right to health
  7 May 2018


The global nursing community would be celebrating the birthday of the nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale on 12 May as part of International Nurse day under a universal theme of ”Right to Health” for the 2018 commemoration.The global nursing community would be celebrating the birthday of the nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale on 12 May as part of International Nurse day under a universal theme of ”Right to Health” for the 2018 commemoration.

 

The South African Nursing Council, as the voice of the nursing profession is in full support of this celebration and has added its own spin on the day with the theme “Nurses also have a right to health”. The focus will be on stress and its related condition, hypertension. This is in support of the international theme while underscoring the fact that nurses’ right to health is sometimes forgotten.

 

The SANC is aware of the challenges faced by nurses in their line of duty, often at the cost of themselves and their own health. Nursing is a noble profession which requires the highest degree of professionalism, dedication and care. The health system will never function without nursing as its backbone. But the stress that nurses work under daily cannot be under-estimated.

 

We acknowledge the efforts from nurses in the healthcare environment. However, it has been noted that nurses tend to forget they also have a right to health. That is the reason we have decided to emphasize the importance of nurses’ health in this year’s International Nurses Day by putting more focus on stress and hypertension” says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, SANC Registrar & CEO.

 

We wish the nurses in South Africa a memorable International Nurse Day. Let us keep alive the words by the late Florence Nightingale: “For the sick it is important to have the best”.

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on  Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

Press Rel 4/2018

Press Rel 4/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: 2018 World Malaria Day
  23 April 2018


The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is supporting the global community in the commemoration of World Malaria Day on 25 April 2018. This year’s theme is “Ready to Beat Malaria” and it emphasizes the global efforts in malaria prevention and control.

 

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 5 million cases over 2015. The current pace is insufficient to achieve the 2020 milestones of the WHO that targets a 40% reduction in malaria case incidence and death rates.

 

The available drugs against malaria do not offer complete protection against the disease. The most important method of prevention is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by following these rules:

Wear protective clothing
Use insect repellents that contain diethyltoluamide (DEET). Repellents should be applied to all exposed skin as per instructions on the can.
Approved insecticides that can be sprayed on to clothing
Sleep under a treated mosquito net
Use mosquito-repelling vaporizers.


The 2018 theme “Ready to beat malaria” instigates hope that this deadly disease would be beaten. In infected individuals malaria symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after the mosquito bite. The first symptoms are normally fever, headache and chills – almost like cold and flu symptoms -and it may be difficult to recognize it as malaria. To be safe, healthcare providers should suspect malaria in patients with unexplained fever who have returned from areas known as a risk for malaria as little as 7 days prior. ” says Ms Sizo Mchunu, SANC Registrar & CEO. 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on  Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 

Pres Rel 3/2018

Press Rel 3/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: SANC warning against “pre-nursing” programme
  5 April 2018


The South African Nursing Council (SANC) issued a warning today regarding certain institutions that are offering the Community Health Work programme purporting that it is an entry requirement into nursing education programmes.

 

These institutions lure students, who do not meet the minimum entry requirements into nursing education programmes, into their programmes with promises that it will provide them with an opportunity to bridge into nursing education. Says Ms Sizo Mchunu, Registrar of the SANC: “We should make it clear that this is not true. Entry requirements into nursing education programmes are legislated and the Community Health Work programme or any “pre-nursing” programme will not assist students to bridge the gap. They will be paying a lot of money for the programme only to find out at the end of their studies that the SANC cannot allow them, according to legislation, to register as student nurses.”

 

The SANC requests all students to be mindful of institutions that are recruiting and promising them that if they don’t meet requirements for entry into the nursing profession, they must do the community health course as a bridging programme. Of even bigger concern is that apparently these institutions are expecting the students to deposit huge sums of money into their accounts as an entry fee.

 

The SANC strongly warns students and potential students against these institutions that offer the so-called ‘’pre-nursing”-programme, purporting that it is an entry requirement for any nursing programme.

 

ENDS

Official Spokesperson:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za 

  

Press Rel 2/2018

Press Rel 2/2018

FOR ATTENTION: News Editors
SUBJECT: 2018 World TB Day – SANC calls on all nurses to adhere to TB protocols
  22 March 2018


The South African Nursing Council will be joining the world in the commemoration of the World TB Day on 24 March 2018 with the THEME “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”.

World TB day is commemorated each year to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up the efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.

A lot of effort that has been put in trying to empower the communities with preventative measures and to cure this deadly disease but despite these measures TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 4 500 lives a day. In 2017 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 10.4 million people fell ill with TB and there were 1.8 million TB deaths in 2016. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a further major health risk that adversely influences the progress made in the fight against TB.

The 2018 theme makes an appeal to all leaders in different spheres in the communities to play a positive role in trying to combat the spread of TB and also to ensure that all those that are on treatment adheres to their treatment plans. As the voice of the nursing profession the SANC pledges its support to educate nurses and the public who interact with people affected with TB, whether at work or in the community at large,” says Ms Sizo Mchunu, SANC Registrar & CEO.

The SANC acknowledges that the nursing profession is the backbone of the health system and as such nurses attend to people who are diagnosed with TB, who are already on treatment and those that are immune-compromised. Nurses are frequently the first professionals to have contact with infected people, which exposes them to the disease and increases the risk of occupational TB. The SANC therefore appeals to nurses as leaders in their communities and health facilities to ensure that they adhere to the TB management protocols in order to protect themselves and also ensure that any new TB infections decreases and patients take their medication properly and timeously.

The nursing profession’s standards of care include enabling patients to achieve an adequate level and quality of life and with TB nurses play a crucial role in control programs.

Ms Mchunu says: “The SANC, as the governing body in the nursing profession and nursing education, will continue to engage in programs contributing to the dream of a TB-free world.” 

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council 
E-mail:    avaneeden@sanc.co.za
Website: www.sanc.co.za 
Tel:          012 426-9542

 

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

 

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel (012) 426-9542 or email: avaneeden@sanc.co.za