SMU receives R600 000 funding from CHIETA
SMU recently received funds to the tune of R600 000 from The Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA) to fund 10 needy students in the school of Pharmacy.
Prof Ayo-Yusuf appointed by Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) and Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAF)
SMU is pleased to announce that Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf has recently been appointed by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) to serve as a member of its Scientific and Research Technical Task Team. The task team focuses on ensuring that healthcare services are compliant with relevant regulations and standards so that patients in both the public and private sectors are protected.
Prof Ayo-Yusuf has also been elected the Deputy Chair of the Health standing committee of the prestigious Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAF).
Prof Ayo-Yusuf is the DVC responsible for Research, Postgraduate Studies and Innovation at SMU.
Professor Hannelie Meyer takes the leadership reins of SAVIC at SMU effective from 01 March 2021
Media Statement
28 February 2021
For Immediate Release
The South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is set to have a new head. Prof Hannelie Meyer takes over the reins from Prof Rose Burnett who is retiring at the end of 2021. However, to ensure a smooth transition, the newly appointed head is expected to take over her role with effect from 01 March 2021.
Since joining SAVIC in 2013, Prof Meyer has dedicated her time to immunisation related activities including serving as part of two ministerial advisory committees while also serving in the division of Public Health Pharmacy at SMU. Currently, she also serves as the Chair of the National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee (NISEC).
She has made a significant contribution since joining SAVIC as Scientific Advisor for pharmacovigilance, cold chain management and logistics and this saw SAVIC grow enormously. Furthermore, Prof Meyer was very instrumental in the development and introduction of the Higher Certificate in Vaccinology offered by the School of Pharmacy at SMU as well as a series of short courses.
Her contribution is felt across the nation as she is also part of the team of experts from the nine schools of Pharmacy in the country working with the South African Pharmacy Council to develop a generic short course on vaccination techniques for pharmacists to build capacity for future vaccination, as well as the administration of vaccines as part of the national Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.
Professor Meyer assumes this new role at the time when the country is rolling out a massive vaccination programme to cushion people against the debilitating effects of Covid-19. Her knowledge and expertise in the field of Vaccines and Immunisation will certainly continue to contribute to the national efforts on the fight against Covid-19.
SMU wishes the outgoing head of SAVIC Prof Rose Burnett well and thank her for the immense contribution she made while serving as the head of SAVIC.
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: www.smu.ac.za
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Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Health Experts holding a panel discussion to enrich the current debates on Vaccines and Covid-19
Media Statement
21 February 2021
For Immediate Release
As the Coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University together with the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre will tomorrow Monday 22 February 2021 hold a panel discussion and presentation to share scientific information on Vaccines and various aspects of tackling Covid-19.
An assortment of distinguished academics and experts from the SMU and SAVIC are lined up to separate science from fiction by sharing their insights on the current debates taking place in South Africa and across the globe. The discussions are an integral part of the University’s community engagement efforts to help address bigger challenges facing Africa and the World. Furthermore, it is expected that the debates and diverse views shared by the experts will help engender awareness and debunk myths around vaccines and Covid-19 in public.
The panel will comprise of the following leading experts and academics:
- Professor Rose Burnett, Head of SAVIC and a member of the National Advisory Group on Immunisation
- Professor Hannelie Meyer from the Public Health Pharmacy and Management division at SMU and Chair of NISEC
- Dr Lufuno Razwiedani from Community Health and member of the Provincial and District outbreak response team and member of SAVIC
- DR Temitayo Famoroti, a clinical virologist and member of SAVIC
The session will be presented by Dr Andrew Musyoki from the SMU department of microbiology and Deputy Head of SAVIC and Professor Dini Mawela, the Deputy Dean of SMU School of Medicine will chair the session.
To be part of the virtual discussions please use the following details:
To join the meeting: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/fb4cae47ef6d4535b0b4d0eec68bab2d
For registration: https://forms.gle/rViB3AnZfMyZtSbQ6
Date: 22 February 2021
Time: 12h00 – 14h00
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is home to leading health experts and boasts NRF rated researchers, scientists and academics.
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: www.smu.ac.za
Media-statement-21-February-2021-SMU-Health-Experts-to-hold-a-panel-discussion-on-Covid-and-Vaccines
SMU collaboration with the M5 Group to test a herbal product goes ahead
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is collaborating with the M5 Group to test a herbal mixture developed by the group to help in the response to the fight against Covid-19. In a joint media statement issued recently the University said it recognizes and respects the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and the role of traditional medicine in our health care system. Furthermore, the University stated that it values coordinated efforts in response to pandemics, including the response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The University further emphasized that SMU is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and in promoting excellence in all research collaborations and partnerships it undertakes.
“During 2020, the University was approached by M5 MediGroup – a group of traditional health practitioners, to test the safety and efficacy of an herbal product prepared by M5 MediGroup and presented as a potential “alternative remedy” for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 infection. During January 2021, a formal collaboration was established with the M5 MediGroup and the group handed over samples of their herbal product to SMU, with the understanding that the University will follow all its ethical clearance processes to scientifically evaluate the herbal mixture for safety and efficacy”, said Professor Mapaseka Seheri in a statement. The university emphasized later during a press briefing that the herbal product is not a vaccine.
“The work that we will do include the characterization of the herbal product in terms of phytochemical composition and evaluation for anti Covid-19 activity. This herbal product is not a vaccine, it falls under the alternative medicine category, if we find efficacy, it will serve as a treatment, said Dr Stanley Gololo the Acting Head of Biochemistry at SMU. The University will continue to work with M5 MediGroup in promoting indigenous knowledge systems using best practices. History was indeed made when the Traditional practitioners joined hands with the scientists at SMU through the aforementioned relationship committing to contributing to solving the biggest health challenge we have faced in our time. We hereby give assurance to the public that once the University has completed these tests, a comprehensive scientific report will be provided. This is a developing story.
Joint Media Statement by SMU and M5 MediGroup on matters relating to herbal mixture for COVID-19
Media Statement
08 February 2021
For Immediate Release
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is the only dedicated health sciences university in the country. The University recognizes and respects the importance of indigenous knowledge systems and the role of traditional medicine in our health care system. Furthermore, the University values coordinated efforts in response to pandemics, including the response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. SMU is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and in promoting excellence in all research collaborations and partnerships, remain paramount.
During 2020, the University was approached by M5 MediGroup – a group of traditional health practitioners, to test the safety and efficacy of an herbal product prepared by M5 MediGroup and presented as a potential “alternative remedy” for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 infection. During January 2021, a formal collaboration was established with the M5 MediGroup and the group handed over samples of their herbal product to SMU, with the understanding that the University will follow all its ethical clearance processes to scientifically evaluate the herbal mixture for safety and efficacy.
However, it was recently reported in the press that the M5 MediGroup (Traditional Practitioners) had administered their herbal product to more than 500 COVID-19 patients from Rustenburg, Soweto, Boksburg and Limpopo and received positive feedback from their patients thereof. In the light of the above, the University and the M5 MediGroup (Traditional Practitioners) saw it fit to clarify that the process to administer the herbal product had occurred prior to the establishment of the relationship between the University and the M5 MediGroup and was done within the scope of the practice of the group of traditional health practitioners.
Within the existing partnership to test the group’s observational findings, the understanding between the two parties is that the University would develop research protocols to be approved by the SMU Research Ethics Committee (SMUREC) for testing the herbal product. Furthermore, that the University will only administer the herbal remedies or products to patients once safety has been proven and efficacy subsequently established. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) would also have to approve the tested product before further distribution.
The University will continue to work with M5 MediGroup in promoting indigenous knowledge systems using best practices. History was indeed made when the Traditional practitioners joined hands with the scientists at SMU through the aforementioned relationship committing to contributing to solving the biggest health challenge we have faced in our time. We hereby give assurance to the public that once the University has completed these tests, a comprehensive scientific report will be provided.
***End of Joint Statement***
Issued by following by: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and M5 MediGroup
Enquiries: Prof M Seheri – Director Research and Postgraduate Studies – SMU
Cell: 082 748 8389
Enquiries: Mogale Mogale Spokesperson – M5-MediGroup
Cell: 082 620 5123
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