The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Keiron Boosi has made the institution proud as the Board of Directors member and Director of External Affairs for the World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS). 

Boosi, a sixth year Chiropractic student, was elected as Board of Directors member and Director of External affairs for the WCCS, at the WCCS Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2020, an international forum representing the global student chiropractic population. She stressed that the purpose of the WCCS is to advance and unite the global chiropractic profession through inspiration, integrity and leadership. 

Boosi spoke on her involvement, saying that it has been such an incredible experience to date.  

“It has humbled me in ways I could never have imagined. It allowed me to grow and learn as a person as well as a future health care provider,” said the elated Boosi. 

She also indicated that whilst being in the role currently, there were many challenges and the pandemic made it even harder.  

“The change between tradition and how we knew things to be too, then going into the unknown constantly has been a huge task to fulfil personally and as a team. I have learnt tolerance, patience and understanding as well as a set of leadership and networking skills I would not have picked up anywhere else,” she said.  

Boosi has had the privilege of hosting an African Regional Event (ARE) at DUT as a Convenor in 2019, attending and supervising ARE at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in 2020 and a second event at DUT in April this year, as a regional coordinator and then as board of director member. She has been able to represent DUT at AGMS in America, Canada, Australia and this year, 2021, a virtual one in Wales. 

“It gives me an immense sense of pride to see the South African WCCS chapters thriving and representing our nation so well. I know that they will continue to raise the flag for chiropractic long after I leave,” she said.  

Boosi indicated that her final duty was one of the most exciting opportunities she had been given, which was to attend the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) as one of the 14 delegates from the WFC (World Federation of Chiropractic) delegation.  

“Despite it not being possible to attend in person (which would have been in Geneva, Switzerland) as a consequence of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is still a great honour to have represented DUT, South Africa and my profession-chiropractic on such a large scale. The 74th WHA is a very prestigious assembly and ran from 24 May to 1 June, 2021. The assembly centred around ending this pandemic, preventing the next: building together a healthier, safer and fairer world,” she said.  

She also stressed that the Assembly allowed for discussions amongst a total agenda of over 70 health issues, such as reports on COVID-19 response and preparedness, mental health, patient safety, non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, health workforce, laboratory biosafety, violence against women, girls and children, World Health Organisation (WHO) results framework, WHO budget for 2022-2023, and health issues within 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.  

“This was an incredible opportunity and I am very honoured to have been given the chance to do so. I encourage all health care students to get involved with the student health organisation within their community and to use all opportunities that come their way to better themselves, to be the best possible version of themselves that they can be for their community and this world,” she said.  

Boosi’s role as Director of WCCS will be ending in July 2021.  

Pictured: Keiron Boosi 

Waheeda Peters