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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.
Civil-military unity during trainingBy Lt Pieter Potgieter,School for Military Health TrainingProgramme Co-ordinator DisasterMedicine TrainingNetcare hosted a function for theSurgeon General, Lt Gen Rinus Jansenvan Rensburg, and members of theSchool for Military Health Training toshow its appreciation of training indisaster medicine presented by theSchool for Military Health Trainingon 1 March 2004. On this occasiondonations were officially handed overfor the training rendered to theSurgeon General. Guests attendingwere Mr Michael Sacks, Chairpersonof Netcare, Prof Dion du Plessis,Regional Manager of Tshwane Region(Netcare), Ms Daleen Nel, ManagerRisk Management, and Ms MandéToubkin, National Trauma Co-ordinator.Netcare was introduced to disastermedicine training through theEMERGO training concept. This practicaltraining system is a very costeffectiveway of training participantsin all facets of disaster managementand disaster medicine. The USAdonated the EMERGO system to theSAMHS and specifically to the Schoolfor Military Health Training to facilitatethe training of participants fromcountries within the SADC region.The ultimate aim of this training is tofacilitate trauma system developmentand co-operation between civilmilitarycounterparts and all SADCcountries during major disasters.In 2003 the SAMHS and NetcareFltr: Mr Michael Sacks, Chairperson of Netcare, Prof Dion du Plessis,Regional Manager of Tshwane Region (Netcare), and Lt Gen Rinus Jansenvan Rensburg, the Surgeon General. (Photo: Sgt David Nomtshongwana)entered into a public-private-partnershipwith the aim to provide disastermedicine training to personnel ofNetcare in the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape regions. During 2003altogether 268 personnel of Netcarereceived this training. Participants inall regions ranged from hospital managers,nursing managers, personnelfrom all hospital departments andalso members from Netcare 911.The total cost of the three trainingsessions amounted to R137 000-00.For this training Netcare donatedtraining aids to the SAMHS to thevalue of R81 704-00. The training aidswill be used in conjunction with theEMERGO system and will enable theSchool for Military Health Training toimprove the standard of the trainingand to train more participants pertraining session. Netcare indicatedthat this training initiative wouldcontinue in the future.Water washing away povertyBy WO2 S. Chengan, ASB DurbanArmy Support Base Durban commemoratedNational Water Week inthe form of an exhibition, stalls and apoetry and art competition. The eventtook place at Salisbury Island MilitaryBase on 25 and 26 March 2004.The theme for National WaterWeek was "Water - Bringing a BetterLife for All" and the slogan was:"Water Washing Away Poverty". Theaim and mission of this event were toeducate members of the DOD andlearners from the schools on theimportance of managing our waterresources wisely and to createawareness of ways to save water.This was definitely achieved.Approximately 2 500 learners,20 teachers, 50 civilians and manyDOD personnel attended.Mr James Perkins from theDepartment of Water Affairs was theguest speaker. The Department ofAgriculture and EnvironmentalAffairs sponsored 10 000 stickersand handbills and Unique Catererssponsored a tent. The exhibitorswere Umgeni Water, the Departmentof Agriculture and EnvironmentalAffairs, WESSA, Emergency ServicesArmy Support Base Durban andNaval Station Durban.Army Support Base Durban hasbeen actively involved in water savingand has achieved an enormousmonitory savings of R1.6 million forthe year 2003.35J U N E 2 0 0 4 • S A S O L D I E R
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Page 12 and 13: clippingsDeceased soldier decorated
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Page 18 and 19: eventsSouth Africa goes tothe polls
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Page 26 and 27: eventsTaking over the reinsHe belie
Page 28 and 29: Never ever fail to tryBy PO Dennis
Page 30 and 31: insightOur Navy boasts of itssucces
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Page 42 and 43: insightArmy College adaptsits train
Page 44 and 45: insightEducating air powerBy Brig G
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June - Department of Defence

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