Cape Town: City Health celebrated International Nurses Day and paused to reflect on the contribution of more than 600 nurses in its employ. Theme for 2025 International Nurses Day is ‘Our Nurses’, Our Future, Caring for nurses strengthens economies’.
Employs of City Health, who are nearly 650 nursing workforces, between the age 24 and 64, and nearly 50 out of them are male. The nurses hold various qualifications, ranging from Enrolled Nursing Assistants to Clinical Nurse Practitioners who are able to perform tasks that are typically done by physicians, including diagnosing, treating and managing illnesses.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that Nurses are the lifeblood of the primary healthcare service. They are the quiet strength behind every immunisation campaign, chronic club, wellness outreach and emergency intervention.
According to Higham, their presence means continuity, trust and unwavering care, often in the most challenging circumstances.
In year 2025, the International Council of Nurses is highlighting the importance of investing in nurses’ well-being and recognising their contribution to global health and economic stability.
Moreover, nurses account for more than 80% of the workforce in the primary healthcare space. City Health provides support for career advancement through bursaries and financial assistance for further studies, leadership and management training.
However, the staff also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme of the City of Cape Town which offers confidential psychosocial support, as well as integrated wellness support focusing specifically on mental health. The output bears testament to the load that is carried by the nurses.
More than 230,000 residents are receiving life-saving anti-retroviral treatment in Cape Town, with nearly 99% receiving their treatment at a primary health care facility. In year 2024, the City Health saw an increase of 61% in the number of TB tests, as staff championed the implementation of Targeted Universal Testing for TB (TUTT).
In 2023-24 financial year, the city clinics screened nearly 179,000 clients for diabetes. More than 600,000 for hypertension, two of the common and potentially deadly lifestyle diseases.
Councillor Francine Higham further added, to the nurses your work is not just a job, it’s a calling. You are the hope in the communities, the strength in the teams, and the reason many of the clients return with a smile. Thank you for choosing to serve, to lead and to care.
You are not just the frontline; you are the lifeline. To the clients, help us celebrate these amazing individuals by adhering to treatment regimens and staying true to the health advice that is so critical to mitigating your risk of disease.