​Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has committed to ensure that the Gauteng Department of Health's (GDoH) two institutions of learning, Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC) and the Gauteng College of Nursing (GCoN) are adequately supported to fulfill their training mandate. 
The MEC made this commitment during an oversight visit to the two institutions on Wednesday, 10 July 2024 while engaging with the principals and management on the necessary support needed to produce skilled health professionals for the healthcare sector. 
The LCOEC is the only Provincial College in Gauteng providing training in Emergency Medical Care programmes including a Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care and Diploma in Emergency Medical Care, and other short courses for existing health professionals. 
GCON is a government operated accredited college that provides training in nursing qualifications including Diploma in Nursing, Advanced Diploma in Midwifery and postgraduate diploma programmes which include Adult Critical Care Nursing, Child Nursing, Midwifery and Primary Care Nursing. 
"We are committed to ensuring that our institutions provide world class training opportunities. We need to get gain best practices from our counterparts across the globe to ensure that we produce a skilled workforce for our health facilities. 
"Our goal is to ensure that both Lebone and GCoN become world-class institutions offering globally accredited qualifications. We have received a number of accreditations in the previous months, and more are still expected to come," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The LCOEC is currently engaged in training around 1 200 Basic Ambulance Assistant interns recruited through the #NasiIspani campaign. The majority of these interns have for many years struggled to get employment due to lack of training. The aspiring paramedics are getting a monthly stipend for a period of 12 months while receiving essential training and valuable work experience, enabling them to become employable and market-ready in the field of emergency care.
The LCOEC has also undertaken an initiative to expand its First Responder Programme to communities in townships, informal settlements and hostels across the province, surpassing the target for 2023 of 2 500 with over 3 200 individuals successfully trained. 
Through the GCoN, thousands of Diploma in Nursing graduates have been successfully placed in community service programmes across Gauteng public hospitals, community health centres and clinics. 
In addition, these two institutions are playing a critical role in upskilling already employed health professionals across healthcare facilities in the province. With the LCOEC having gained an accreditation from the American Health Association, the college will now offer Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses.