Health Care Sciences Community Engagement Initiatives

• This is an ongoing project, started by SMU SHCS staff on 10 October 2023 .
• The School visited Itsoseng Secondary School under the theme “Celebrating the power of community kindness”. The focus is on prevention of substance abuse, bullying, mental health effects on a teenage mother and teenage father amongst learners.
• The School will roll out this initiative to Diphetogo and Amandasig secondary schools, where strengthening interpersonal relationships for the learner, parent and the teacher will be a priority.
• The School collaborates with various departments promoting Mental health awareness amongst SMU staff and students. Activities entails the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, including nutritious foods, physical activities, and the well-being of individuals. Fact sheet on healthy eating @ workplace will also be published.
• Social media training will be held, to educate on social media issues and the effects on mental health. 

• The project aims to promote and protect breastfeeding during National Breastfeeding Week, were mothers and caregivers are offered mental support to be able to optimize nutrition, health as well as well-being.
• Psychosocial project started within the SMU community in the form of nutritional support to needy students. Staff donates food packs to give the identified needy students.
• Meals on wheel initiative is in progress.
• Gardening project initiative is in progress within the university to assist the SMU student community in need to obtain vegetables.

Pads drive was started two years ago (2022) at Diphetogo Secondary school and was rolled out to Amandasig Secondary School last year. This was done in partnership with Pep Stores to support learners in need and to promote good personal hygiene among girls during their monthly periods. Health education on personal hygiene and prevention of pelvic inflammatory diseases were given. The project is planned to be ongoing every year.

• Literacy project took place in Pretoria North, Garankuwa and Winterveldt. Learners with learning disability were supported to read and write.
• This project is conducted every Friday of the second week and staff and students are involved.
• During the pads drive project in 2023, boys (learners) in Amandasig Secondary School were given pens to encourage them to continue writing as they learn during lessons.

• This is an ongoing project regarding needs assessment, hearing care and screening amongst elderly people in Garankuwa, Hebron and Winterveldt old age homes. This is aimed at identification and intervention on hearing related challenges as well as referral where necessary.

• Community wellness in the form of exercises /fun run/walk are organized within the SMU community every year and aimed to be rolled out to adopted Schools in future.

Another new initiative related to support of SMU staff struggling with publication is about to start in the upcoming months. There are staff members from different departments within the SHCS who agreed to collaborate with each other in article writing. This will relieve stress and enhance confidence to staff members.