UCT signs memorandum of agreement with CANSA and the TAC

Done deal: The signatories of a memorandum of agreement between UCT's School of Public Health and Family Medicine and CANSA and the TAC were (from left) Prof Leslie London, Anna Grimsrud (TAC), senior lecturer James Irlam, and Stephanie van Deventer (CANSA)

UCT's School of Public Health and Family Medicine has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).

Speaking after the signing, the School of Public Health's Professor Leslie London, convenor of the fourth-year programme, said the agreement represented valuable teaching and service opportunities between the university and the NGO sector.

It will see fourth year medical students being placed at these NGOs during their eight-week primary health care and public health blocks. They will work on epidemiological and health promotion projects in areas and communities where the TAC and CANSA are active.

"We chose these NGOs because of their highly functional profiles," said the Public Health Division's Gavin Weir. "This will give our students good insight into the work of these NGOs".

Representatives of both NGOs said their ability to promote health care had been hampered by shortages of staff and resources. The students would provide a welcome boost.