BINC expected to attract 1,000 nurses and stakeholders from Africa
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday May 20, 2015 12:29
BINC is the collaboration between BONU, Aviwe and the Ministry of Health. Speaking during a stakeholders’ briefing yesterday, Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) vice president, Mmapula Nyepetsi said the three organisations had joined forces to deliver a state of the art conference that will attract over 1,000 nursing professionals, stakeholders and industry captains all over Africa from 4-6 November 2015.
The event will be held under the theme: ‘Efficient and effective nursing through nursing through evidenced informed practice: A key to improved Customer Care’ .
Nyepetse noted that the conference will offer attendants a unique opportunity to communicate, align and interact with clinicians, leaders and decision makers in nursing health care internationally.
“Delegates will engage through an energising and informative programme of speakers and presenters with the aim of advancing and improving coverage and quality of nursing services,” she said.
Nyepetse said BINC 2015 would provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for in-depth exchange of experiences and expertise within and beyond the international nursing community. She said the dynamic gathering offers a unique opportunity to communicate, align and interact with clinicians and decision makers in nursing and health care internationally.
“The objectives of this conference include to improve the coverage and quality of health services, demonstrate the nursing contribution to the health of individuals and communities and to provide opportunities for an in-depth exchange of experience and expertise within and beyond the international nursing community,” she said.
Assistant Minister of Health Alfred Madigele said the government was committed to ensuring that its citizens received quality health care services wherever they were.
“Our commitment is proven by our impressive track record of good governance and economic growth, which also facilitated development in the health sector. We have strived to identify strategic initiatives and innovations that will drive sustainable transformation and improve service delivery in the health sector,” he said.
Hee added that over the years, the government had steadily increased its budget allocation to the Ministry of Health (MoH), which had facilitated expansion of quality health services to its people.
Madigele said the majority of their people live within a five kilometers radius of a government health facility, as it was their aim to ensure that every Motswana accesses quality health services.
“We have built clinics, hospitals, health posts, district and referral hospitals all over the country to ensure easy access to health care. We also ensure that Botswana maintains a robust regulatory and investment climate that has attracted a number of private medical institutions to invest in the country,” he said.
The assistant minister added that the nurses and other health care workers were the backbone of the country’s health system as they provide counselling, education and care for the sick. Madigele admitted that nurses had an immense responsibility and were at times forced to work under strenuous conditions. He however assured health workers that government was doing all it could to ensure that they were adequately capacitated and resourced to deal with the country’s challenging health needs.