Delivered by the SayPro Royal Committee Secretary- Mary Mapula Malebe
Distinguished SayPro Leadership, Honoured Healthcare Workers, Community Leaders, Guests, and Fellow Citizens,
Good day.
As the Secretary of the SayPro Royal Committee, it is both an honour and a responsibility to speak on this significant occasion — SayPro’s 2025 National Healthcare Decisions Day.
Today, we gather not only to acknowledge the importance of healthcare, but to spotlight a vital truth: that every person has the right to understand, decide, and speak for themselves when it comes to their health. At SayPro, we believe in a future where every individual — regardless of age, income, gender, or background — is empowered to make clear and informed decisions about their own care.
As Secretary, my role is to ensure the voice of the people is documented, respected, and preserved. In healthcare, that means ensuring systems are in place that:
- Record and protect patients’ wishes and choices
- Promote clear communication between providers and patients
- Ensure every voice, especially of those who are vulnerable or often overlooked, is formally acknowledged
- Maintain transparency and trust in how healthcare decisions are made and upheld
Our communities have often suffered in silence — not because they lack opinions, but because they lack platforms. Let today serve as a national reminder that no person should ever be treated without understanding their rights, and that health systems must not only provide care — but also listen, document, and honour the choices of the people they serve.
In 2025, the SayPro Royal Committee has focused its efforts on:
- Supporting the implementation of accessible healthcare documentation in all major languages
- Encouraging families to have open conversations about health and end-of-life decisions
- Promoting legal and ethical standards that respect patient autonomy
- And engaging with government to ensure policies reflect a balance between clinical care and personal choice
We cannot claim progress if our people are still afraid to ask questions or make their voices heard in a clinic or hospital. We cannot be inclusive if we do not have systems that record and respect decisions made at every level — from the rural health post to the private hospital.
To our healthcare workers: thank you for your service — and for listening.
To our citizens: speak up. Your wishes matter.
To our leaders: protect the right to choose, and ensure that right is reflected in every system, every form, and every policy.
Happy National Healthcare Decisions Day 2025.
May we continue to build a nation where every decision is heard, every right respected, and every voice recorded.
Thank you.
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