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Chairperson, 5th African Nursing Conference
Co-chairperson, 5th African Nursing Conference It is an honour to welcome you—leaders, practitioners, and advocates—to this pivotal gathering where we unite to advance healthcare across our continent. Guided by the National Health Act and the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), we share a vision of Universal Health Coverage for All.
This year’s theme, “Empowering Nurses as Catalysts for Health Equity: Bridging Gaps and Building Inclusive Health Systems to Strengthen Responses to Health Crises,” reflects our shared commitment to addressing inequalities, fostering collaboration, and building resilient healthcare systems that serve everyone, everywhere.
Over the next two days, we will explore the critical role of nurses in driving health equity, from implementing innovative practices to strengthening responses to pressing health challenges. Together, we will examine strategies to bridge gaps in healthcare, enhance inclusivity, and ensure that our systems are equipped to respond to evolving crises.
As delegates, your voice is vital in shaping this vision. Whether you represent the public or private sector, your insights will drive solutions that close gaps in access and equity, ensuring no community is left behind.
A Testament to African Leadership
This conference stands as a beacon of African leadership in healthcare, not just for our continent but globally. Our collective efforts will inspire the global community as we work toward a future where healthcare is accessible, equitable, and resilient.
Let this event be a time to forge lasting partnerships, ignite powerful ideas, and reaffirm our commitment to empowering nurses and improving healthcare for all.
Dr. Tracey De Klerk is a dedicated Deputy Director within the Gauteng Department of Health, working in the Chief Directorate Nursing, specifically in Nursing Compliance and Research. Her academic and professional journey reflects her unwavering commitment to excellence in healthcare.
Her passion for Ethos and Professionalism led her to earn a master’s degree with distinction, recognized by the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award for her outstanding research and academic contributions. She continued to excel, achieving a doctoral degree in the same field, solidifying her as an authority in Ethos and Professionalism.
Dr. De Klerk’s extensive experience spans clinical practice, preceptorship, curriculum development, and leadership. She has also dedicated over a decade to Continuing Professional Development, significantly enhancing healthcare standards and practices.
In her professional endeavours, Dr. De Klerk remains resolutely committed to advancing the ethos of professionalism within the healthcare domain, striving tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of integrity, competence, and compassion.
Her aspirational pursuits are entrenched in the ethos of continuous improvement, wherein she endeavours to leverage her expertise and influence for the betterment of healthcare provision, ensuring the delivery of optimal care to all those entrusted to her charge. Driven by a commitment to professionalism, integrity, and compassion, Dr. De Klerk continually strives to improve healthcare delivery, demonstrating her dedication to the betterment of healthcare provision.
Dr Vasuthevan has been employed by the Life Healthcare Group since 2010 as the Nursing & Quality Executive Group. She is also an external supervisor and examiner for Master’s and PhD candidates at private higher educational institutions and holds multiples professional registrations in addition to her PhD in Nursing.
In addition, Dr Vasuthevan has been successfully written grant proposals, been published in the “Nurse Educator’s Guide to Management – Chapter 2”, “A new Approach to Professional Practice – Chapters 2, 7 & 9” and many others as well as presenting her papers at local, national and international conferences and symposia.
With a vast experience in the areas of Management & Leadership, Quality of Healthcare, Nursing Education, Nursing Practice and Regulation of Nursing, Dr Vasuthevan has also held multiple roles of prestige in leadership such as being elected by the Minister of Health to the 41st and 42nd South African Nursing Council and being reelected for a second term of office as the Chairperson of the Nursing Education Association.