by Kegorapetse | Feb 2, 2021 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, statements
Media Statement
02 February 2021
For Immediate Release
One of the primary business of the University is research and development, through the support by National Research Foundation to contribute in knowledge creation, innovation and improving quality of life of all South Africans.
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University congratulates Professor Sphiwe Madiba for attaining a C3 Rating from the National Research Foundation. This NRF C rating category means that she is recognised as an established researcher with a sustained recent record of productivity in her field. The rating further signifies recognition from her peers as having produced a body of quality work and validates her research niche in the university as well as locally and internationally.
Prof Madiba through her research explored 1) HIV status disclosure across population groups, 2) adolescent health and mental health status, and 3) social aspects of HIV with major focus on HIV prevention.
“My research on disclosure is an expansion of my PhD, where I developed a substantive theory that explains the decision by caregivers of children on paediatric ART to disclose or not disclose their HIV diagnosis to children. The interest in disclosure has extended to work in various other areas of disclosure. I have published extensively in the area of disclosure, and my work culminated in a book chapter that focused on the contextual factors shaping disclosure across population groups”, said Prof Madiba.
The NRF rating will also enhance the status of the university to produce more quality research and rated scientists. Prof Sphiwe Madiba joins other NRF rated Professors within SMU.
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
Download Media Statement Prof Madiba attains NRF C rating 02 February 2021
by Kegorapetse | Jan 18, 2021 | Accolades and Achievements
The awarding of R320, 000 by PPS for Professionals to upgrade a lecture hall in the School of Oral Health Sciences at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
by Kegorapetse | Nov 20, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media
Dr Elelwani Madzhia
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) were recently accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) with a subspecialty training unit of Paediatric Oncology. The Paediatric oncologists diagnose, treat, and manage children and teens with cancers, blood cells and bleeding disorders. “We are a 30 bedded unit and we get approximately 50 new admissions per year. We treat all types of childhood cancers (blood and solid cancers for patients up to the age of 18 years), and all the benign haematology disorders,” said Dr Elelwani Madzhia, head of Paediatric Haemotology and Oncology Unit at SMU/DGMAH.
The unit is located at DGMAH (ward 20) and caters for patients residing in City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s northern areas (Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Mabopane, and Hammanskraal), and North-West province. “We offer medical, surgical and psychosocial therapy to our patients with the help of a multidisciplinary team that comprises of various health practitioners. We also get the support from the cancer support non-governmental organisations like Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), Reach for a Dream Foundation, Rainbows & Smiles Rainbow (Supporting kidz with cancer), and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA),” said Dr Madzhia.
Under the leadership of Dr. Madzhia, the unit hopes to improve the overall outcome of the patients. The unit wish to offer a radiotherapy service and also conduct a lot of research in the near future. The challenges encountered at the unit are more psycho-social and requires preventive measures for patients wellbeing. “There is a lack of awareness in the communities, which results in us receiving patients coming with advanced stages of cancer. With cancer, early presentation is essential in order to achieve an overall high survival rate and a good quality of life,” highlight Madzhia.
“Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have not had any positive patients in our unit,” conclude Madzhia, who is an SMU Alumna.
By Tumelo Moiloa
by Kegorapetse | Oct 20, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media
Prof Honey Mabuza, the newly elected President of the College of Family Physicians, pledges to steer the noble profession with integrity and transparency to enable it to reach a higher level. This is the legacy that he wishes to leave, after his three-year term of office, ends in 2023.
Elected through a secret ballot process, by family physicians, Prof Mabuza brings health care expertise and a wealth of experience in health care to the profession. He completed Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor Surgery (MBChB) and a Master’s degree in Family Medicine (M Fam Med), at SMU.
He has a wealth of experience as a clinician, working at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and (DGMAH) and a senior lecturer at SMU. Not satisfied with healing the bodily ills and aches, Mabuza also administers to the spiritual needs as a pastor during the weekends. He is a holder of Bachelor of Theology degree (BTh) obtained from UNISA.
“I will put what I am gifted with, on the table, and therefore, uniquely, contribute in the wellness and moving the college from strength to strength” he pledges. Prof Mabuza will preside over a twelve-member council which was elected by family physicians. The twelve then elect a three-member executive, namely, the president, the secretary and the senator. His peers found him worthy of their votes, for which he is eternally grateful.
Among others, his duties involve representing the interests of family physicians at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), which is an umbrella body of all speciality colleges, in SA. He will also convene meetings of the college council at least once a year, acts as an adviser to the President CMSA, Senate and CMSA Officers, provide an annual college report for publication in the CMSA platforms and revise the panel of examiners of the college examinations triennially, for the guidance of the Examinations and Credentials Committee.
Family medicine, which is considered a cornerstone of primary health care, is a medical speciality that is dedicated to the provision of comprehensive health care to all people, of all ages.
He takes the torch of leadership at a very challenging time when the whole world is grappling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is mindful of this and other challenges in the health care industry. He is however unfazed by these challenges. “My leadership will not be a one man show”, as I have a collective of leaders in their own right whose opinions will be valued and that will go a long way to enable the college to overcome any challenges.
By Maditsi Matlala
by Kegorapetse | Sep 30, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
At its meetings held on 23 October 2020, Council approved a number of policies for the University as depicted below.
- Policy on development of SMU policies
- Policy on recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- Academic Exclusion Policy and Procedures
- Policy on Short Learning Programmes
- Administration Policy
- Certification Policy
- Teaching and Learning Policy
- Records Management Policy
- Curriculum Review and Development Policy
- Selection and Admission Policy
- Policy on Legal Services
- Student Residence Policy
- Remuneration Policy
by Kegorapetse | Sep 22, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
22 September 2020
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is pleased to announce that the World Health Organization has designated the SMU Virology Department as a WHO Collaborating centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research and Surveillance.
Amongst the tasks to be undertaken at the centre include:
- Conducting molecular characterization of randomly selected samples collected through the expanded rotavirus/enteropathogens surveillance network from Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries using Taqman Array Cards (TAC) and qPCR.
- Conduct genotyping of specimens from 15 participating countries and provide data to these countries diarrhea causing vaccine preventable pathogens.
- Conduct on site assessment of laboratories to ensure compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) including External Quality Assurance (EQA) and Quality Control (QC).
- Organize capacity building and training workshops on serological and molecular testing of priority enteropathogens.
“We welcome this global recognition of SMU by the World Health Organization. This will go a long way in bolstering our research efforts as an institution and we commit to uphold the WHO standards as expected”, said SMU DVC for Research, Postgraduate studies and innovation Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf.
The centre will be headed by Professor Mapaseka Seheri.
As a newly established health sciences university, SMU continues to make significant strides in the fields of Research and innovation. The university also boasts top National Research Foundation (NRF) researchers 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
Download: Statement-SMU-designated-as-WHO-collaborating-centre
