Durban University of Technology (DUT) officially launched the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework, comprising five core values: transparency, honesty, integrity, respect, and accountability. These values are underpinned by the principles of fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion, and excellence. DUT Communications team member Vukani Langa, recently engaged in a conversation with Salome Naidoo, Primary Health Care Practitioner at the DUT student clinic (Isolempilo) at Steve Biko campus to delve deeper into the Living Values Framework and ENVISION2030.

 Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?

A: “I am a senior professional nurse residing at the Steve Biko Clinic. I serve as a Primary Health Care Practitioner to our beloved DUT student community.’’

Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family? 

A: “I joined in the year 2020, almost four years to date.’’

Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why? 

A: “I resonate with the principle of compassion. Compassion forms the core basis of the nursing profession and is a vital aspect of the nursing ethical code of practice. In my line of work, I interact with students from various backgrounds on a daily basis. They enter my office describing the signs and symptoms of their illness, their anxieties, sadness, fears, and social issues. A compassionate approach towards them builds an instant ‘trust rapport’. They begin to feel comfortable in their pain or feeling ill or suffering from mental or emotional stress, hence promoting a holistic, therapeutic effective primary health care consult.”

Q: What are your views on the DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.

A: “In our ever-changing society we are constantly in need of individuals that ‘think out of the box’. I find this tagline motivational and inspiring, it inspires and challenges our DUT staff and students to unearth new innovative solutions and create opportunities out of problems arising, this creates a brighter future for our upcoming future generation.’’

Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?

A: “I am a deep thinker and I have constantly reviewed the living values framework documents reflecting its core components against my own personal feelings, thoughts, and actions. I find this task rewarding as it cultivates roots of creativity, innovation, and impact fullness within my professional growth at DUT.”

Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you? 

A: “I am the ‘guardian of the furry kingdom’, an avid animal lover.”

Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?

A: “This framework has initiated and created a positive cohesion of our DUT staff community, that falls under the DUT umbrella, creating a positive organisational structure which enhances work performances, which in turn supports our student population in all of its diversity, holistically.”

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time? 

A: “I valued time spent with loved ones and friends. I also avail myself to give back to our Chatsworth community in the form of outreach.’’

Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?

A:  “I will try my level best to update myself on the latest health and social issues that our youths face and integrate it into our clinic educational programmes. (Knowledge Is Power). I am currently analysing gaps in our student referral systems outside of DUT. I aim to refer students to recognised healthcare facilities that are free of charge, and accessible with an integration of a follow-up plan.’’

Q: What is your daily motivation? 

A: “My daily motivation comes in the form of a Christian author by the name of Joyce Meyers. I listen to her podcast during my early morning routine on a daily basis. She encourages me to cancel and not heed to any negative thoughts, by replacing them with positive  thoughts and she constantly reminds me to “Run my day or my day would  eventually run me.”

Q: What are your future goals at DUT? 

A:  “I aim to enhance my nursing knowledge and skills by edifying myself through attendance of training workshops and seminars.”

Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?

A: “I would wish for our world to turn into heaven and off course 10 superpowers.”