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Environmental Health Students Rock

Environmental Health Students Rock

It took two weeks for DUT Community Health Studies third-year students to organise an awareness campaign on environmental sustainability in Wentworth and Merebank, South of Durban.

The campaign was part of the global World Environmental Day commemoration, which in South Africa, coincides with National Environment Month (June).

This year’s theme was Think, Eat & Save and was an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The DUT students, in partnership with the Engen Refinery, took the awareness to six primary schools which were divided into six groups.

Joy Kistnasamy, DUT Environmental Health Lecturer, who accompanied the students, spoke on the highlights of the day which included a short play, a presentation about the effects of the misuse of natural resources and a presentation of certificates.

She said the purpose of the road show was to provide pupils with the relevant information on what they can do to ensure the sustainability of their environment.

“The warm welcome the kids gave us was enthralling and we were overjoyed. This made it easy for us to pass on the message of environmental sustainability to them,” said Kistnasamy.

She said students spearheaded the campaign while she played an advisory role as her Health Epidemiology class took the lead. She added, “They have worked together, transcending barriers of gender, colour and race. I like the teamwork that has developed as the campaign unfolded”.

Nompumelelo Gumede, third-year Environmental Health student and team leader, said the students learnt a lot in terms of having to present in front of an audience, something they had never done before.

“What we are studying for requires a lot public awareness and participation so we found this project a great platform for assessing our strengths and weaknesses. The project was a success and it can only get better going forward,” she said.

– Thabo Maile

Pictured: Third-year DUT Community Health Studies students who organised an awareness campaign on environmental sustainability in Wentworth and Merebank, South of Durban.

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