by Kegorapetse | May 10, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
10 May 2020
For Immediate Release
The South African government is currently under pressure to scale up screening and testing for Coronavirus infection in communities. Organizations and institutions of higher learning are actively working on ways to support government in conquering the spread of COVID-19. To this end, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has designed an innovative new Web APP which will contribute to containing the virus and to monitor COVID-19 related symptoms amongst staff and students.
This App will alleviate pressure on government and other health professionals to provide regular screening for the University community as they go about their work and study on campus. The COVID-19 monitor Web APP which can be accessed through any mobile device, is launched with the view of continued use at SMU both during and after the challenging period of the recent lockdown.
“Our staff and students on campus will be able to daily self-check on their health status by answering a series of questions about symptoms known to be associated with Coronavirus infection, including any possible recent exposures and testing. Based on the responses provided, together with exposure history weighted higher than others, the APP then provides a risk score with relevant recommendations and next steps”, says SMU spokesperson Dr Eric Pule. These risk scores are colour-coded and, indicates either to contact a medical provider and/or call the National Department of Health’s Hotline number that appears on the risk report dashboard. This information would also be immediately available to a restricted number of pre-approved health professionals including the campus health doctor who are part of the SMU COVID-19 response team. The health provider can then advise on the need to either test and/or quarantine or self-isolate. This also allows those who may possibly have reported exposure to a COVID-19 positive patient or who themselves have tested positive while at home or on campus to self-report. The SMU response team would therefore be able to act swiftly with regards to referral for quarantine and/or isolation, as well as contact tracing in collaboration with the District Health Response team.
The Web APP developed by Prof Ayo-Yusuf at no cost to the University, will be used only as a screening tool and it is not intended to replace a consultation with a medical professional. The APP further provides a link to the National Department of Health Coronavirus website (https://sacoronavirus.co.za/) for the latest information on available resources, press releases and toolkits to support staying healthy.
“We pride ourselves as being the first University to launch such a real time screening tool for staff and students before returning to campus in order to ensure collective safety. This has received the support of the Student Representative Council and organised Labour”, says SMU spokesperson Dr Eric Pule.
This is a web App available through the SMU website which is zero-rated (no cost) by all major mobile network providers, thus the data requirement to use the App is zero. Due to the lag time between infection and appearance of COVID-19 symptoms, the University’s Web APP Monitor permits staff and students to in real time report early symptoms, track and understand the trajectory of their symptoms through this self-screening process. Especially important as we move into the Flu season, the APP can be used regularly to ensure early warning when the user feels unwell or becomes aware of exposure to any known COVID-19 positive person. The SMU COVID-19 Monitor web APP will be accessible to all students, staff and joint appointees working at the Doctor George Mukhari Academic Hospital.
“The APP will support the plans by the Department of Higher Education Training, Science and Technology to save the academic year 2020, while also appropriately responding to the call to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it will contribute and support the recommended 360-degree screening/testing of students and staff returning to our campus”, emphasized Dr Pule.
The APP can be directly accessed as often as required via any mobile device using a link that would be sent to all students and staff by SMS and email.
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: https://www.smu.ac.za
Download: Media-Statement-SMU-launches-Covid-19-App-for-staff-and-students_10May2020
by Kegorapetse | Mar 30, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements, SMU Media
South Africa, like the rest of the world, is affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis, having registered the first case on 5th March 2020.
Following the Cabinet meeting on 15th March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the national state of disaster, and announced measures that were intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore on Tuesday, 17th March 2020, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr BE Nzimande and the Deputy Minister, Mr Buti Manamela, met with various stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training sector to discuss necessary measures to be taken within the sector to curb the spread of the coronavirus and among others, the meeting with stakeholders agreed on the establishment of the PSET Task Team on Covid-19 that will guide the response of the PSET sector to the development of the pandemic and its implications for the sector and its role in society.
We are honored and grateful that our Acting Vice Chancellor – Professor O Ayo-Yusuf has been appointed to serve on the Ministerial task team. His enormous experience in the Higher Education Sector and expertise in public health will assist in guiding/advising the task team to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Task Team shall, monitor the developments of the coronavirus pandemic, make continuous assessment and analysis of the available evidence to guide the decisions that affect the PSET sector and any adaptations required for policy-making; synthesize, collate and process research conducted by various agencies, institutions and individuals on relevant aspects of the pandemic to aid policy making and societal intervention; Identify cross-sectoral innovations, models, resources and expertise from within the PSET sector that could be mobilized and geared at various stages in the national effort to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus and manage its effects on communities; Make appropriate recommendations on the policy and strategy for consideration by the Minister; And with prior agreement of the Minister, make appropriate information available to the institutions in the sector to guide the decisions that may need to be made at various levels of the PSET governance structures.
Let us work together and take measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in our beautiful country.
Issued by Marketing and Communication
Download: 2020-03-30-Prof-Ayo-Yusuf-appointment
by Kegorapetse | Mar 6, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
06 March 2020
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is elated to announce that its Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for Teaching, Learning and Community Engagements, Professor Eunice Seekoe has recently been awarded a C rating by 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 denotes recognition from her peers as having produced a body of quality work, the core of which has coherence and attests to ongoing engagement in the field of focus.
Prof Seekoe’s work is about mentoring health professionals and leaders. “My research area focused on developing competencies, building capacity and empowerment of health professionals and leaders. I developed a model for mentoring health professionals and leaders, which has been used to develop and implement programmes for newly appointed employees, students at undergraduate and post graduate levels”, said Prof Seekoe.
Her model is currently used in developing health executive leaders in a specific programme of Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership in Health (ASELPH) in the 9 Provinces across the country.
Through her research work, Prof Eunice Seekoe supervised to completion 33 Masters Students and 8 PhD’s and published 52 papers and continues to present papers in local and international conferences.
“The university is very proud to have an accomplished and consummate researcher like Professor Seekoe and this goes to demonstrate the quality of academics and executive management that SMU has. Her knowledge and passion about health issues will help SMU in its pursuit to produce quality professionals for the country”, says Dr Eric Pule, SMU Director of Marketing and Communication.
The NRF ratings are normally allocated based on a researcher’s recent outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers and those awarded are expected to impart cutting edge skills and knowledge to the next generation of researches.
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-06-March-2020-Prof-Seekoe-C-rating
by Kegorapetse | Feb 23, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
SMU SOPA Announcement 2020
Media Statement
23 February 2020
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University will host the annual Gauteng State of the Province Address on the 25th February 2020. The SOPA is an important event in the calendar of the provincial legislature and the University is pleased that the legislature chose SMU to host the sixth official opening.
“The University community has cooperated with the organizers of the event throughout and understood that the sports complex precinct is now under the control of the Legislature until after the event. On behalf of the entire SMU community, I wish Premier David Makhura well as he prepares to address the people of Gauteng from our University and assure all invited guests of our hospitality”, said SMU Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf.
The opening of the Legislature marks the first sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and Premier David Makhura will use the event to outline the plans of the Gauteng Executive for the year.
Date: 25 February 2020
Time: 10am
Venue: Sefako Makhatho Health Sciences University, Sports Complex
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-SOPA-23Feb2020
by Kegorapetse | Oct 23, 2019 | Accolades and Achievements
In 2019, the university appointed the DVC: Teaching, Learning and Community Engagement,
Media Statement
23 October 2019
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Eunice Seekoe as the Deputy Vice – Chancellor responsible for teaching, learning and community engagements.
Prof Seekoe is a distinguished and well respected academic and leader in the health sciences fraternity and academia in general. Amongst the qualifications she holds include a Doctoral degree in health management from the University of Johannesburg, an MBA, M Soc SC, BA Cur attained from other institutions.
She is credited with the establishment of a Health Sciences faculty at Fort Hare in 2016 and is certainly not a stranger in this field. Additionally, Prof, Seekoe has published scholarly articles in many academic journals on a variety of topics and made numerous presentations on international platforms. Amongst the topics she wrote about include: “Reproductive health needs and the reproductive health behaviour of the youth in Mangaung in the Free State province”.
The university welcomes her and will undoubtedly gain from her enormous experience, knowledge and leadership abilities as it continues to produce quality health sciences professionals to address the health challenges and needs of South Africa. SMU is a fledging University and the only institution in the country specializing in health sciences and boasts eminent academics and NRF rated Professors in their respective fields.
Prof Seekoe has already commenced her new role at 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
Media-statement-appointment-of-a-new-DVC-at-SMU
by Kegorapetse | Apr 3, 2017 | Accolades and Achievements
Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr Bomo Edith Edna Molewa delivered her acceptance speech on Friday 17 March 2017, at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, during her installation as the first chancellor of SMU.
Speaking to a captive audience of cabinet colleagues, academics, students business and neighbouring community, Chancellor Molewa highlighted that the there is a fundamental link between education and economic development. She said what has been achieved at SMU, illustrates very clearly that resources have never been a barrier to excellence, or an excuse for mediocrity.
Chancellor Molewa called upon corporate South Africa to recognise that the skills being offered at SMU are critical to South Africa’s economy and therefore they must forge strategic relationships with the university, deepen relationships that exist, establish chairs of excellence, provide bursaries, internship and job opportunities to students. “There is no reason why SMU cannot leapfrog into a new era of sustainable campuses. However, the reality is that without necessary financial support we will be unable to align our priorities with taking our place as a world classinstitution of higher learning”. Chancellor emphasized. Chancellor Molewa envisions a future for SMU with green spaces, parks and open areas for students study to live and study in.
