Volume 1 | Issue 1
A quarterly overview of activities, events, achievements and news from the College of Health Sciences.
The College has made great strides this semester with regards to the Joint Health Agreement discussions with the Department of Health, expansion of our Decentralized Clinical Training Programme (DCTP) into Dundee and Hlabisa sites, groundbreaking research studies that received international recognition and the designation of our Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Evidence Based Practice as a World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre. We are also proud to mention that the Health Professions Council of South Africa granted the Optometry and Dentistry programmes full accreditation for the next five years.
In an effort to improve communications within the College, as per our Communications Strategy, we launched the D6 Connect. This application allows for push notifications and instant alerts that are essential during times of crises. The application is currently undergoing an upgrade so we’ve placed the project on hold until new functions as well as a desktop application has been added.
In terms of our “Grow Our people” strategy, the College has embarked on a number of training workshops for staff and students that would improve relations and develop strong leadership skills. These have been scheduled for the month of May and June and includes Leadership Development Training and Emotional Intelligence Courses. Each of the workshops have included aspects of team building. Please make use of these opportunities provided.
In an effort to save on transportation costs, especially in our DCTP sites, the College has purchased a number of Toyota Avanza’s which will assist in the transportation of our students to and from hospitals within the sites. We continue to develop the DCTP sites and currently the implementation of refurbishment and development projects is in the pipeline at Port Shepstone Hospital, King Dinizulu Hospital, Townhill Hospital, Northdale Hospital and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. We are also in the process of expanding accommodation at each of the sites for our current students and in preparation for the new intake of Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro Cuban Collaboration medical students.
All of this work is only possible with a very strong, dedicated team and so I am grateful to each of you for your ongoing commitment to growing our College. Thank you for your hard work that ensured a successful registration and graduation process and for your resilience during the recent spate of community and student protests as well as the devastating floods. I am especially grateful to our staff and students that have been able to catch up the academic programme despite the challenges we experienced. Together as a team, we will always overcome.
The Decentralised Community Training programme (DCTP) is an initiative of the KZN Department of Health and UKZN in response to the Minister of Health’s call to optimize service delivery and to increase Health Care Professionals in all areas of the health spectrum.
Newcastle’s Madadeni Hospital pharmacy staff hosted final year pharmacy students in the DCTP. The students also got a chance to work at the dispensary and assisted the pharmacists with pharmaceutical calculations.
The DCTP programme welcomed nursing students on the platform. The group joined the programme mid-April at Dundee, UMzimkhulu (accreditation pending) and Hlabisa hospitals and have placed a total of 20 students.
Audiology students have commenced on the programme in Ngwelezane, GJ Crookes, Greys, Edendale, Murchison and Stanger hospitals. Speech language Therapy have only placed students at Ngwelezane for now. Pharmacy students expanded the programme and intake at Port Shepstone hospital and are also placed in Ngwelezane, Newcastle, Greys and Stanger. Physiotherapy students are in Ngwelezane, Estcourt, GJ Crookes, Manguzi, Madadeni, Murchison and Port Shepstone hospitals. Occupational Therapy students are based in Ngwelezane, Manguzi, Greys, Townhill, Fort Napier, Umngeni and Stanger hospitals.
The 5th year MBChB students commenced at Pietermaritzburg as well as at Queen Nandi hospitals. The rural clinical training blocks for medical students continued in Manguzi, Mseleni, Bethesda, Dundee, St Andrew’s, Eshowe, Emmaus, Church of Scotland and Murchison hospitals.
The College is currently looking at the Professional Services staff complement at the sites in order to improve service delivery as the programme continues to grow.
College Public Relations staff, Academic Services staff and students from several Disciplines addressed 930 learners in the Vryheid and Pongola District that are keen to pursue programmes in the College. All of these learners attend Quintile 1 and 2 schools. The second cluster visit took place in the Umgungundlovu District Mpophomeni with three Quintile 1 and 2 schools, reaching 174 learners. The team also addressed learners at Embizweni High School in Umlazi. Another District Cluster visit is scheduled for the end of May in the Harry Gwala District.
Our Biokinetics, Leisure sciences, Exercise science, Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy students working closely with Head of Sport Science, Dr Roweena Naidoo participated in the iHope Foundation Rainbow Walk in the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The aim of the event was to create awareness on Autism. They also participated in the Careers Fair at the Nelson Mandela Community Youth centre in Chatsworth
There are a number of refurbishment projects on the go. In the School of Health Sciences, renovations to the Audiology and Speech-Language Therapy departments were approved and should commence at the end of May 2019. IPP provided R 3.5 million for this project. Currently staff and students of these departments share office and teaching space however once the renovations are completed, both departments will be separated. IPP also agreed to fund the renovation of teaching venues in the E and F blocks on Westville campus. This will allow for additional seating space for students.
For the School of Nursing and Public Health, two park homes are due to be built at two rural rotation sites, i.e. Church of Scotland Hospital (COSH) and Dundee Hospital. A new park home at COSH will be replacing an old one that has been rendered unsuitable for use as a residential facility for students. A new park home at Dundee Hospital will be built for the first time.
In the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, the tender process for the new undergraduate laboratory (Medical School) is complete and construction will commence soon. The plans to refurbish the first floor of the Dean’s suite has been approved and work will also commence shortly. The School received a donation of a small boardroom table (6 seater) from First National Bank.
The School of Clinical Medicine has installed an online touch screen directory at the entrance of the Main Building with directional signage to offices, boardrooms and laboratories. Phase 2 of the air-conditioning installation is complete and a hand over is imminent. Through funding from PPS for Professionals, the Student’s facility as well as the Staff Lounge were upgraded and refurbished. The Investec sponsored Lounge for CHS academics is operational after the damage caused by the recent flooding.
General Enquiries
DBN: +27 31 260 8833 : +27 31 260 4377
or
Call +27 31 260 2203 : +27 31 260 7950
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Visit our websites
College of Health Science: chs.ukzn.ac.za
School of LM and Medical Sciences: slmms.ukzn.ac.za
School of Health Sciences: shs.ukzn.ac.za
School Clinical Medicine: scm.ukzn.ac.za
School of Nursing : https://snph.ukzn.ac.za
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