Nurses Applaud Positive Indigenous Health Initiatives On Close The Gap Day, Australia

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is calling on the federal government to implement successful Indigenous health models to help close the 17 year life expectancy gap existing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Ged Kearney, ANF Federal Secretary said there were a number of successful nurse lead programs that could be applied nationally in consultation with Indigenous communities. "There are some wonderful nursing programs throughout Australia's Indigenous communities that, through a combination of cultural, family and community support, are seeing the achievement of improved health outcomes."

The ANF highlighted Monica Lawrence's nurse lead pilot project in South Australia as a positive example of how practical measures can deliver vast health improvements to Indigenous Australians.

Ms Lawrence piloted a remote area cardiac liaison nurse position through Flinders Medical Centre to ensure that Indigenous Australians from remote communities were properly informed and physically prepared for impending cardiac surgery.

In the past less than 50% of these patients had surgery, either failing to present to hospital or having to be cancelled at the last minute. With simple strategies that improved communication between the hospital and local communities Ms Lawrence ensured that all patients were properly informed about and fit for surgery, and that they all attended.

Ms Lawrence said it was important to have well supported, culturally sensitive programs involving family, the local community, and skilled remote area nurses.

The ANF also highlighted the work of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses (CATSIN) in increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people choosing nursing as a career.

"The ANF and CATSIN continue to endorse programs that aim to facilitate the education of Indigenous nurses in their own communities, like the aged care initiative at Pulkapulkka Kari." Ms Kearney said.

The ANF and CATSIN also encourage universities offering a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery to continue to work towards including core-curriculum subjects to further educate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous nurses on Indigenous history, health and culture.

"It is through these types of programs that we will begin to address the national shame of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people dying 17 years earlier than other Australians."

The ANF, representing nearly 160,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.

Missing South African Nurse Found in Jail

RIYADH, 10 March 2008 — A South African nurse who has been missing since November has been found imprisoned in a Saudi jail and is expected to return to her country within the next few days.

Dannelene Noach disappeared after allegedly discovering corruption at the hospital where she worked. “The South African Embassy has managed to trace the nurse, and the mission is rendering all consular support to her,” said South African Ambassador John Davies.

“Dannelene will be repatriated to South Africa in a few days from now... I can only tell you this much at the moment... The mission is working with the Saudi authorities and her employer to facilitate Dannelene’s return as soon as possible,” he added.

According to the South African press, Noach was in good health and spirits, and that her family still knew nothing about the circumstances surrounding her arrest.

“Dannelene doesn’t feel comfortable in talking over the phone,” the report said quoting the nurse’s daughter Lee-Ann Noach-Pienaar.

The nurse, a clinical coordinator at a Riyadh hospital for the past seven years, was apparently being held on bribery charges. Noach was asked in May last year to conduct an audit of her department and had discovered financial discrepancies. As soon as she submitted her report, she was sacked.

In November last year, Noach filed a complaint in the labor court against the hospital for sacking her.

The case was transferred from the labor court to the high court as a civil case against the employer. The judge ruled that Noach should receive compensation and when she appeared in court again on Nov. 20, the judge was on an emergency leave and the case was postponed to Nov. 27. It was then that the nurse went missing.

Noach has spent three months in prison and contacted her family only in January since her disappearance.