Welcome to the University of Cape Town News
Wamkelekile, Welkom
Wamkelekile, Welkom
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5 minutes with Prof Mary-Ann Davies: Director of the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research
Prof Mary-Ann Davies has been extensively involved in epidemiologic analyses of COVID-19 in the Western Cape and leading the surveillance strategy in the province to guide our response. She has served on technical working groups for the Ministerial Advisory Committee and supported provincial planning for outbreak preparedness as well as vaccine rollout. We asked her a few questions.
23 Dec 2020
Caring for the carers
Many health workers have reported that mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and burnout have been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry have developed a service which aims to prioritise employee health and wellness during the pandemic.
23 Dec 2020
Grant supports ‘Creating a legacy of trust within the public’
In May 2020 the Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa’s (CIDRI-Africa) was awarded funding to support its critical public engagement (PE) mission of ensuring this work is mutually beneficial to both researchers and local communities. The additional funding, awarded by Wellcome , is to span a two-year period, while the centre enriches and further develops its PE activities.
15 Dec 2020
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Advocating for better rural health
For the past 20 years, the Rural Support Network (RSN) has aimed to advocate for better Rural Health Care development in Rural and peri-urban communities, through educating of future health care professionals in rural communities. This year we have continued to highlight the issues of rural health care and looking at how we, as students and health professionals, can do more for our communities to ensure a better future for all.
11 Dec 2020
Inclusive Practices Africa launches on a high note
There are over 300 million persons with disability on the continent. The impact of the burden of disease and disability as well the socio-economic and socio-structural factors that often inhibit the progression of marginalised communities, requires a strong need for the reduction of inequality. The Faculty of Health Sciences’ Inclusive Practices Africa (IPA) Research unit , accredited in 2020, takes this work head on.
11 Dec 2020
The magic of Cape Town Together: Self-organising, neighbourhood-level responses to the COVID-19 crisis
Cape Town Together, a network of self-organising neighbourhood-level groups known as Community Action Networks (CANs), emerged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from the Health Policy and Systems Division began working with a team of community organisers, social activists and public health practitioners who sought to catalyse a community-led response to Covid-19, and its socio-economic impacts. From sharing information and resources, to setting up community kitchens, the network became an important part of the overall societal response
11 Dec 2020
UCT-Africa Virtual ENT: A buoyance for academia during COVID-19
Establishing a new online academic programme called UCT-Africa Virtual ENT and launching a flourishing YouTube channel during a pandemic. These are just some of the achievements of the Division of Otolaryngology (ENT) in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
11 Dec 2020
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Message from Deputy Dean: Health Services, Dr Tracey Naledi
Within the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Health Services portfolio, the past year was dominated by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. This was a time of hardship, pain, suffering and death. Who can erase the images of long lines of people queuing for food; or the patient dying alone in hospital without the loving touch of their closest family; or the family left devastated by the death of multiple family members? COVID-19 has served as a harsh reminder of the deep inequities that exist in our country, and the fragility that this brings. It has also been a reminder of the privilege we have to offer care and compassion in a time of need.
11 Dec 2020
Building Global Communities of Practices to Reduce Risks from Chemicals and Waste
Using online platforms, the Division of Environmental Health is developing globally active online peer-to-peer learning, stakeholder engagement and collective problem-solving in the complex environment of ensuring the sound management of chemicals and waste to protect the health of marginalized women, children and workers.
10 Dec 2020
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Community rehabilitation workers advocating for disability inclusion during lockdown
At the beginning of the national lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, community rehabilitation workers were invited to participate in a four-week writing circle about their experiences of disability inclusion as frontline workers. This was an opportunity to highlight their efforts as well as their invaluable knowledge of community needs.
10 Dec 2020
Keeping mothers in mind: COVID and beyond
Pregnant women and new mothers have been particularly vulnerable, as they struggle to take care of themselves and their new-born babies with limited access to resources during the national lockdown. During 2020, the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) has been supporting maternal mental health care in low-income communities.
10 Dec 2020
Designing for development
Referring to himself as ‘an avid student of the College of Google and the University of YouTube’, Dr Muzzammil Ismail, a Public Health Registrar in the School of Public Health and Family Medicine, is the designer of the award-winning Western Cape Department of Health COVID-19 Public Facing Dashboard, which recently surpassed 2 million views.
10 Dec 2020