WSU STRENGTHENS COMMITMENT TO RURAL EC HEALTH

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences executive dean, Prof Wezile Chitha, has highlighted the university's intentions and efforts to combat the concerning state of health services in the Eastern Cape.

As testament to these attempts, WSU signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2023 with the Easter Cape Department of Health (ECDH) in the attempts to strengthen regional hospitals for better access to healthcare

“The context of the faculty is mainly rural, and this has committed the faculty to rural health as its Niche area in an attempt to develop community-responsive health professionals, researchers, and innovators,” said Chitha.

Amongst the key issues he addressed were academic achievements and innovations, research development, and the development of infrastructure and facilities.

According to Chitha, the combination of WSU’s academic platforms create a province-wide network of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, robust community engagement programmes, and a growing portfolio of research activities as a building block towards an academic health system.

“Academic Health Systems (AHS) generally represent a distinctive component of the nation’s health system; they are characterised by partnerships between accredited higher education institutions, schools of health professions, and healthcare providers.”

He added, “They play a major role in education of professionals, relying on hospitals, community health centres, and clinics as primary training sites.”

To promote growth and development, the faculty seeks to increase its intake for programmes such as MBChB, from 120 to 145 in 2024.

“The postgraduate medical education started in 2000 as a joint initiative with the EDOH involving clinical disciplines in three training complexes viz Mthatha Hospital Complex, East London Hospital, and Port Elizabeth Complex.”

“It has now grown in and includes training Pathology, Specialised Psychiatry and expanded family medicine within the district health services platform. Our programmes have matured over the years producing home-grown medical specialist and becoming the cornerstone for professional leadership and specialist services in the province.”

According to the Dean, as the faculty prepares to celebrate its 40^th anniversary in 2025, it will continue to develop programmes that will meet the needs of the EC.

“We have agreed, through the AGC, to strengthen regional hospitals to increase their role in the training of health professionals. We have so far visited St Elizabeth Hospital, Frontier Hospital, and Cecilia Makiwane Hospital to access infrastructure and resources, determine willingness and readiness, and develop stronger partnerships,” said Chitha.

The University’s medical school is amongst the top eight medical faculties in the world for problem-based community learning with the World Health Organisation saying that “WSU has set a benchmark for universities across the world.

By Ongezwa Sigodi