WSU MEDICAL SCHOOL STRENGTHENS ACADEMIC SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE EC HEALTHCARE SERVICES

According to the newly appointed Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Executive Dean, Prof Wezile Chitha, the strengthening of academic activities at WSU will play a big role in strengthening healthcare services in the Eastern Cape.

“WSU works diligently when it comes to being an impactful university with its academic activities aiming to contribute to the building of a just and sustainable society, however, there are still gaps that need to be filled in the healthcare system in the EC,” said Chitha.

This was during the first ordinary seating of the Academic Governance Committee (AGC) held with the Department of Health, in response to the fragmented state of health services in the EC.

Chitha said it is important to understand that EC academic and health systems work together and, therefore, there’s a need to focus on producing world-class research, education, and patient care to address societal challenges that hinder our healthcare systems.

Among the key issues considered for strengthening academic support, the gathering looked at issues of accreditation, platform development, and the establishment of courses that will address societal needs.

“We have a big responsibility to produce world-class healthcare practitioners and globally competitive leaders. It is, therefore, through intensifying our academic activities, including research and innovation, that we can achieve this goal," said Chitha.

The gathering served as a platform to evaluate progress on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ECDOH, which tasked WSU with rendering academic support to the joint efforts of revitalising healthcare services in the province.

In 2023, the agreement ushered in a ‘Specialist Decentralisation’ project where several WSU medical specialists were dispatched to St Elizabeth Hospital, Lusikisiki, to enhance accessibility to expert healthcare services.

Oncology, Renal Dialysis, Paediatric & Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Psychiatry, and Radiology are just a few of the services that were put in place to serve the areas of Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Bizana, and surrounding areas.

Chitha said the faculty was looking forward to focusing on Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital as one of its special projects.

-Ongezwa Sigodi