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13 November 2018
Photo Moeketsi Mogotsi
Kovsies took an active stance against sexual and gender-based violence through various campaigns in October.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that South Africa will launch a national strategic plan to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) after years of lobbying by activists. Speaking at the Presidential GBV Summit, the head of state commended activists who called for a nationwide shut down in August in response to high levels of GBV and femicide in the country. He says the government is now reviewing national GBV plans and will develop a national action plan.
Activism at the UFS
One of the efforts launched by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Gender and Sexual Equity (GSE) Office in the fight against this plague is the # RESPECTME campaign. From 11 to 26 October 2018, the university held its own 16 Days of Activism.
Geraldine Lengau of the GSE Office believes that minority groups deserve the same amount of respect as all other citizens of this country, which is the core concept of the campaign. “The Campaign is a loudhailer to say, ‘just because I am different from you’, be it gender or sexuality, it doesn’t mean that I deserve any less respect,” she highlighted.
Lengau added: “Activism will forever remain important on our campuses as it creates an environment where the community is made aware of matters that would otherwise not have mattered had they not been publicised. Also activism becomes all the more important in advancing the university’s strategic plan.”
Policies advocating against GBV
As stipulated in the UFS Sexual Harassment, Misconduct and Sexual Violence Policy the university strongly believes in the principle of human dignity that is entrenched in the Constitution of South Africa (1996) which resolves to ensure a safe working and study environment for students.
Student Affairs also led a campaign which aimed to highlight the ongoing scourge of sexual and gender-based violence, in line with the policy. “The university is working relentlessly at endorsing the aspects and characteristic traits of respect amongst all of its stakeholders in an effort to reduce the notion of gender-based violence,” said the Dean of Student Affairs, Pura Mgolombane.
School of Nursing takes the lead in skills development in South Africa
2012-05-22
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Professional nurses gained hands-on experience in Stoma-Care Nursing at a five-day short-learning programme at the UFS School of Nursing.
Photo: René-Jean van der Berg
22 May 2012
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The School of Nursing presented the first Stoma Care Nursing short learning programme on the Bloemfontein Campus this week.
Mrs Diane Keegan, Assistant Director for Short Learning Programmes at the UFS School of Nursing, said this was the only programme of its type for professional nurses in South Africa.
“Stoma-care nursing is a sought-after skill in the health sector these days. There are very few professional stoma-care nurses in South Africa and not many new nurses get to learn these skills. This programme aims to fill skills shortages,” said Mrs. Keegan.
Stoma care refers to the care rendered by a professionally trained medical practitioner to a patient who has undergone an
ostomy.
About 23 professional nurses from around the country attended the credit-bearing programme at the UFS.