June - Department of Defence

34eventsClimbing the ladderof academicsBy Alpheus DzivhaniPhoto: PO Eddie KgomoFlorence Nightingale is mostremembered as a pioneer ofnursing and a reformer ofhospital sanitation methods.Unknown to many, however,was her use of new techniquesof statistical analysis,such as during the Crimean Warwhen she plotted the incidence ofpreventable deaths in the military.Soldiers called her "The Lady-in-Chief" because she played a vital roleon their behalf as a banker to remitthe men's wages home to theirfamilies. The spirit of FlorenceNightingale, "The Lady-in-Chief",continued to live on at the Diplomaand Pledge of Service Ceremony ofthe SAMHS Nursing College, inassociation with the University ofSouth Africa (Unisa). The ceremonytook place on 3 March 2004 atUnisa in Pretoria.Cpln V.P. Nkonyane opened theceremony with scripture reading andprayer while Maj Gen M. Radebe,Chairperson of the College Council,welcomed all the guests of honourLet the oil of knowledge and of love always ensure thatyour lamps burn brightly.S A S O L D I E R • J U N E 2 0 0 4and well-wishers. Lt K.T. Zuma, theChairperson of the LearnersRepresentative Council (LRC) ofSAMHS Nursing College, who wasnominated as Poet of the Year for2004 by the International Society ofPoetry, ushered the recipients to thestage with a multi-lingual poem.Gone are those days, whensoldiers where seen to be selected byvirtue of their physical strength whilenegating or ignoring their mentalability. Members of SAMHS NursingCollege showed that they had drunkfrom the fountain of knowledge whenthey received their diplomas, certificatesand trophies and also pledgedto serve in the enhancement of healthtransformation in the DOD and theRSA in general. Gauteng HealthMEC, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, extendedwarm congratulations to the graduates."The unique function of thenurse is to assist the individual, sickor well, in the performance of thoseactivities contributing to health or itsrecovery (or to a peaceful death) thathe would perform unaided if he hadthe necessary strength, will or knowledge,and to do this in such a way asto help him regain independence asFlorenceNightingale'slamp burnson…soon as possible," said Dr Ramokgopa.Col L. Rose read the "Nurses'Credo" and the graduates followedafter her in unison: "I solemnlypledge myself to the service ofhumanity and will endeavour to practisemy profession with conscienceand with dignity. I will not permitconsiderations of religion, morality,race or social standing to intervenewith my duty and my patient…"Dr U.U. Alberts read the meaningof the lamp and said: "The lamp inyour hand is the symbol of those whokeep vigil over the sick. It is the symbolof the philosophy of the nursingprofession that those who nurseshould be a light unto others. Sheended by saying that she was givingthem the reveille of nursing: Let theoil of knowledge and of love alwaysensure that your lamp burns brightly.Prof D.M. van Ede, Vice-Dean:Sub-faculty Social Sciences of theFaculty of Arts of Unisa, congratulatedall the graduates and Lt Col E.M.Joseph, Officer Commanding SAMHSNursing College, did likewise. TheSAMHS Band and SAMHS NursingCollege Choir gave splendid performances.Maj Gen Radebe dissolvedthe Assembly and the NationalAnthem was played by the verytalented SAMHS Band.We hope that the graduates are inthis profession because they arecalled by God, like their pioneer,Florence Nightingale, who had whatshe described as her "calling". Wehope that they always remember thatthe total health of their patientsshould be their first consideration.