Pharmacy Community Engagement

Community Service

Provide assistance to Leratong Hospice, a non-governmental organisation in Atteridgeville West, with the management of their pharmaceuticals. Prof JC Meyer, Mr KJ Mahlaba

Scientific advisor on pharmacovigilance, cold chain management and logistics to the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC). Prof JC Meyer.

Scientific advisor on vaccination of the elderly to the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC). Mr M Sibanda.

Activities in support of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in South Africa – Prof JC Meyer
• Participation in and presentation at quarterly EPI task group meetings
• Implementation of hepatitis B birth dose

ALMA School is a school for severe intellectual disabled children situated in Eloffsdal, Pretoria. The 360 learners, from all races and between the ages of three and 21, suffer from e.g. epilepsy, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy etc. During 2018, the staff and students of the School of Pharmacy got involved with this school via the PSSA-NG, whom support ALMA School as part of their social responsibility. The School took responsibility of the hamburger/boerewors roll stall during the annual fete – from collecting funds, buying stocks, arranging transport and logistics and manning the stall. On the day, the school had a profit of approximately R50, 000.00

Maths and Science support programme

The School of Pharmacy applied for and received funding, from the Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA), to run a maths and science support programme for Grade 10 and 11 learners from the Ga-Rankuwa community. The programme was offered on campus on Saturdays and during the July and September school holidays. The scholars were collected from their schools and transported to campus where they attended classes offered by Maths and Science teachers.

The aim of the project is to strengthen maths and science skills of the learners in the communities, allowing them to meet the minimum requirements and obtain University entrance. Holding the classes on campus, also exposes the students to the tertiary education opportunities. The programme employs top teachers who teach these students maths and science on Saturdays, as well as during the school holidays. The learners give up their free time to attend these sessions, in hope of improving their futures.

Pharmacy Month

Mr Mahlaba presented: • Use your medicines wisely, Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, 3 September 2018 • Use your medicines wisely, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Pretoria, 21 September 2018

4th East Africa Centre for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI) Vaccinology Course in Kampala, Uganda, 25-19 June 2018

Prof Meyer presented: • Vaccine Pharmacology • Pneumococcal vaccines • Vaccine safety

Media Engagements

Prof JC Meyer, television interview on ANN7 Shape your Life, as part of African Vaccination Week 2018, on Sunday 22nd April 2018.

Workshop on Rational Medicine Use

Prof Meyer and Dr Matlala presented a workshop for the Department of Health Limpopo Province, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee: Rational Medicines Use Subcommittee, Polokwane Hospital, 10-11 October 2018.

Tshwane District Training for pharmacists and Pharmacist’s Assistants

Mr Sibanda presented on Pharmaceutical Waste Management. 17 August 2018.

Influenza vaccination campaign

In May 2018 the MPharm academic interns from the Public Health Pharmacy and Management Division arranged a drive to vaccinate all staff and students in the School of Pharmacy against influenza. Vaccines were provided by the Gauteng Department of Health.

Pharmacy Month outreach activity at Phedisong 6 Primary Health Clinic, Ga-Rankuwa Zone 6, Gauteng

On 20 September 2018, the Division of Public Health Pharmacy and Management reached out to the patients at Phedisong 6, Primary Health Clinic, in Zone 6 of Ga-Rankuwa to educate them on the safe use of their medicines, in line with the Pharmacy Month theme of ‘’Use medicines wisely’’. The team split into three groups and engaged in interactive sessions with approximately 300 patients in various units of the clinic. Patients were educated using a poster and a pamphlet containing information on chronic medicine use, storage, sharing and disposal of medicines.

SAVIC Vaccinology Short Courses

Prof Meyer presented: • Introduction to Vaccine Manufacturing and Distribution: 20-21 February 2018 (Turbine Hotel, Knysna); (19-20 April 2018 (SMU); 17-18 May 2018 (Turbine Hotel, Knysna). • Introduction to Vaccines against Bacterial and Viral Vaccine Preventable Diseases: 17-18 May 2018 (Turbine Hotel, Knysna); 20-21 September 2018 (SMU). • Introduction to cold chain management: 7-8 August 2018 (Turbine Hotel, Knysna); 22-23 November 2018. • Introduction to adverse events following immunisation: 7-8 August 2018 (Turbine Hotel, Knysna); 22-23 November 2018.