The Department of Emergency Medical Care and Rescue (EMC&R) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted a pledge ceremony for their graduating class of 2024 on Thursday, 5 December 2024. The ceremony took place at the DUT Ritson Campus Hotel School.
As they committed and swore their loyalty to the cause of saving lives, the graduates’ parents were also invited to celebrate their children’s accomplishments. Their commitment to upholding the greatest standards of clinical practice in prehospital emergency healthcare, irrespective of nationality, race, religion, gender, or social status, is a monument to their moral and ethical obligation to serve humanity.
The occasion served as a celebration of the young professionals’ unwavering commitment, hard work, and pursuit of excellence in the field of emergency medical care. By making their commitment, these people have chosen a course marked by courage, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to saving lives.
Head of Department, Mr Sageshin Naguran delivered an insightful opening address, which began with a moment of silent, acknowledging the late Ms Nelisiwe Gumede who was also a final year student and passed away before she could graduate.
Mr Naguran then congratulated the outgoing students for their remarkable achievement while being in line with ENVISION2030 strategy of promoting academic excellence. He also instilled a strong reminder that, by taking this pledge, the graduands are embracing not merely a profession but a profound calling. They are preparing to be the initial beacon of hope in critical medical situations, signifying their readiness to enter one of the most esteemed and noble fields in health care.
“ This day reminds us that your success is built on hard work, determination and a collective effort of the entire department. For those taking the oath today, remember that becoming an Emergency Care Practitioner is more than a qualification but it is also a responsibility of saving lives of people in desperate situations,” said Mr Naguran.
Mothekgi Phasha, a native of Sekhukhune village in Limpopo, who was awarded an Academic Excellence Award for being the best final-year student, thanked his family and lecturers, stating that the honour is a genuine reflection of his hard work. “ It caught me by surprise to be awarded the best achiever in class since there are a lot of really good students in our class, but in so saying , I am still happy to have been awarded. This shows that hard work really does pay off,” said Phasha.
Phasha also disclosed that he had a passion for helping others and had always aspired to work in the health sciences. He knew EMC&R was the ideal vocation to pursue when he learnt about it during one of the high school career expos.
Pictured: EMC&R Final year students during the pledging ceremony.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese
Thubelihle Dumakude
