Delivered by the SayPro Royal Committee Deputy Chairperson- Sapapi Johannes Mputla
Esteemed Members of the SayPro Family, Respected Health Practitioners, Honoured Guests, Community Representatives, and Friends,
Good day to you all.
It is with deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I address you today as the Deputy Chairperson of the SayPro Royal Committee, on this vital occasion — SayPro’s 2025 National Healthcare Decisions Day.
This day is more than symbolic. It is a moral imperative, a national reminder that behind every hospital bed, every diagnosis, and every treatment plan, there is a human being — a person with the right to choose, the right to be heard, and the right to decide what happens to their own body.
As a Royal Committee, our duty is to uphold the values of dignity, tradition, and justice. In the healthcare context, this means ensuring that no citizen is denied their voice, especially when it comes to their life and wellbeing.
In many communities, especially in under-resourced or traditional settings, the power to make health decisions is often taken out of the hands of individuals. Cultural norms, family pressure, or fear can silence people — especially women, the elderly, and the vulnerable. This must change.
At SayPro, and within our Royal Committee leadership, we believe that empowerment starts with choice. It starts with education. It starts with access. And it is protected through accountability and leadership.
In 2025, our efforts as a Royal Committee have focused on:
- Promoting health rights awareness at the grassroots level
- Engaging traditional leaders and healers to be part of the solution
- Advocating for respectful dialogue between families and patients on healthcare wishes
- Supporting policies that ensure patient voices are protected in all health systems
- And standing firm that autonomy is not a Western idea — it is a universal right
Let me be clear: choosing your healthcare path is not a privilege. It is a right. And our cultures, when truly honoured, are capable of embracing both tradition and transformation.
To our healthcare providers: let compassion guide your professionalism.
To our policymakers: build systems that protect the voiceless.
To our communities: speak up, learn your rights, and never be afraid to ask questions.
To our youth and elders alike: your decisions matter.
Let today be a beacon — a light that reminds us that development, justice, and leadership begin when we respect the will of every individual.
Happy National Healthcare Decisions Day 2025.
From the Royal Committee, we say: we stand with the people. We stand for choice. And we stand for dignity.
Thank you.
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