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DUT Responds to the “Thuma Mina” Call on Mandela Day

DUT Responds to the “Thuma Mina” Call on Mandela Day

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Faculty of Health Sciences participated in the Phoenix Settlement Trust’s (PST), Annual Mandela Day, celebrated at a local clinic in Bhambayi, Phoenix.

DUT in partnership with the Joint Medical Holding (JMH) and the Mahatma Gandhi Provincial Hospital, offered free medical healthcare to the community of Bhambayi, Phoenix. The theme for this outreach programme was “Thuma Mina” (send me).

Organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences Executive Dean, Prof Nokuthula Sibiya and Prof Noddy Jinabhai through the Office of Community Engagement, this initiative further enhanced stronger community engagement between DUT and its surrounding communities.

Prof Sibiya mentioned that such an initiative aids students and staff to better understand the social and economic challenges faced by members of the community.

“As part of the DUT Graduate Attribute Outcomes, it was vital that students understood the real disease and health profile of our communities- not just in the classroom or from textbooks, but from actually talking examining and clinically diagnosing patients in the community,” said Sibiya.

Sibiya further outlined the benefits of community engagement initiatives of this nature. “As a university, we also aim to motivate parents and their high school children to register at DUT as their premier University of choice for their university education,” said Prof Sibiya.

Over 600 community members attended the Programme and Volunteers from several NGO & CBO groups rendered voluntary services including providing lunch for all the people who attended. The programme was planned and organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences Community Engagement Coordinator, Dr Euvette Taylor and Faculty Research Co-ordinator, Prof Jinabhai.

Dr Taylor expressed how fulfilling it was to work with the community on behalf of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

“Working with the Phoenix community was fulfilling in many ways, as it I become more aware that our communities are rich in culture, diversity and history. There was a genuine connection and a two-way learning experience from both the community and our students. The residents really appreciated that we brought healthcare at their doorstep and took the time to personally answer their questions with genuine interest and courtesy,” said Taylor.

Meanwhile, senior students from the Department of Homeopathy also provided free health care to members of the public in Durban Central.

Through partnerships with various organizations in the private, public, government and NPO’s, the students provided patients with health screenings, free consultations and prescriptions. The main Homoeopathic Campus clinic at DUT offered free consultations to the general public, students and staff.

Other students were deployed to the Cato Ridge community and started consultations from the early hours of the morning till the afternoon.

The Faculty of Health Sciences plans to host another programme of this nature in September, as part of the heritage month.

Pictured: Member of the Phoenix community being examined by a DUT student.

Thembela Makhuba

 

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