FIFTH & SIXTH-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS INDUCTED AS THEY PREPARE TO COMMENCE BEDSIDE PRACTICALS

A group of 40 medical students who've begun a brand-new academic chapter in their studies received words of wisdom, insight, encouragement, and advice as they participated in an induction ceremony held at the East London Resource Centre recently.

The cohort of 5th and 6th-year students, that has vacated the rigid and confined walls of lecture halls, began their bedside practicals at the Free Hospital and Cecelia Makiwane Hospital on Monday 10 February.

One of those clamouring to commence this academic journey is 5th-year student, Nothando Langa, who hails from Nkandla's rural village of KwaChwezi in KwaZulu Natal.

"I'm extremely excited about this upcoming chapter. Clinical practice has proven in the previous year to be my niche - I feel as if I belong despite being constantly reigned outside of my comfort zone. This enables me to grow and handle even the most gruesome moments of the medical practical journey," said Langa.

A self-proclaimed advocate for holistic medicine, the young trainee said she looks forward to interacting with the community on a grand scale – an experience that will help equip her with the necessary insight to ultimately promote and provide biopsychosocial care for marginalized communities.

Her counterpart, a 5th-year medical student from Lusikisiki, Qhamani Nontwana, said he found the transitioning from theory to practical quite intimidating, and yet, an exciting prospect as he'd get an opportunity finally put into practice what he's learned as theory.

"I'm looking forward to finally participating in procedures being done in hospitals, performing physical examinations on actual patients which will undoubtedly assist me in my journey towards becoming a qualified doctor," he said.

When he becomes a doctor, Nontwana hopes to change the misconception about doctors being rude, arrogant and often uncaring, to both patients and staff.

"Each and every patient I will encounter will be treated with the utmost respect, care and professionalism so that they leave the healthcare facility satisfied and well-taken care of enough that they need not come back unnecessarily," he said.

In a frank address of a small crowd consisting of students, health professionals and hospital administrators, WSU Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Executive Dean, Prof Wezile Chitha, reminded the students of their determination and resilience that has brought them thus far in spite a myriad of challenges.

Chitha said: "We are not proud of the conditions and environment that you students have to work under sometimes, but we as a university, together with our various partners, strive every day to ensure that those conditions are improved and conducive for a healthy working environment."

By Thando Cezula