WSU COMMEMORATES 36 YEARS OF MEDICAL EXCELLENCE

The enormous strides and invaluable achievements made by WSU’s health sciences faculty in the educational and medical fraternity over the past 36 years were commemorated in a glitzy affair organized by WSU Convocation in East London on Saturday, 10 April.

Approximately 120 past and presents staff, including pioneers, academics, administrators and alumni who’ve played a leading role since the founding of the faculty in 1985 and helped build and shape the faculty congregated at the East London ICC to honour and celebrate the achievements of former and current giants to whom the existence of the faculty is owed.

“We are embracing and forging relations with our medical alumni who’ve made tremendous strides both locally and internationally, looking back at the history of our prestigious faculty since the inception of the medical school in 1985 and paved the way forward in building an even better health sciences faculty,” said WSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Rushiella Songca.

It was in 1985 when a small group of academics, led by Stockholm University graduate (Sweden) and pulmonologist, who committed her career to helping people in the rural Eastern Cape, were cajoled to action and subsequently launched the medical faculty owing to the meagre opportunities available to aspirant doctors who otherwise didn’t have access to institutions of higher learning that offered this noble academic programme.

“As a black woman, it was extremely difficult to become a doctor let alone leading the charge to establish a medical faculty. It was unusual to have these aspirations. What started as a primary health care and disease prevention unit rather than predominantly curative medicine, saw itself graduating the first cohort of 16 medical practitioners six (6) years later. Over these years, the faculty has relished becoming one of the most reputable academic school in the world. The faculty grew from a small niche medical faculty to a national medical technology powerhouse in various health sciences components,’’ said Xaba-Mokoena.

Themed “Advancing Transformation and Accessibility to Equitable Healthcare”, also central to the occasion was to launch and showcase the faculty’s vision to be a leader in Problem Based Learning (PBL), Community-Based Education (CBE) and Community Partnerships in Africa, in order to improve the quality of life for the global citizenry.

‘’We regard this as an incredible milestone, not just for the faculty but for the entire University, which has been achieved through development, teamwork, hard work, passion, dedication and academic prerequisites from our team of specialised academics’’, said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rushiella Songca.

Higher Education and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, health minister Dr Zweli Mkize, and WSU alumnus, Dr Nkosazana Zuma, minister in the presidency were also on hand to commemorate the WSU giants.

Professors Lizo Mazwai and Khaya Mfenyana, who has led the faculty as deans attended to make remarks in support of the faculty.

Two prestigious accolades were awarded to two great stalwarts on the night –an honorary award bestowed on the founding dean of the faculty, 80- year- old Dr Xaba-Mokoena and a posthumous honour to the family of Lwando Mantshontsho who was killed on campus in May 2017 by his fellow students whilst doing his 6^th are at the Mthatha Campus.

‘’What began as a startup pharmacology dream in a college environment grew into an industry-leading medical technology school that employs 12 departmental heads covering various healthcare disciplines,” added Songca.

The event was live-streamed on Facebook, YouTube and shared on other social media platforms to accommodate interested parties who won’t be in attendance due to Covid-19 regulations.

 - Thando Cezula & Sinawo Hermans