Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
09 December 2019 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Barend Nagel
Victoria Read more
Victoria the mannequin has become a familiar face in Nursing classrooms

She has an uncanny ability to move her eyes towards the sound of voices in a room, her voice shrills and squeals when she's in pain, she throws in a Spanish word or two, and she releases bodily fluids just like a real human would. 

These are just some of the quirky characteristics that make up the new R1,76 million-rand birthing mannequin in the School of Nursing's Simulation Unit, who goes by the name Victoria. She weighs more than 80 kg and is almost 1,7 metres high. With features such as real eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair, you can't help but do a double take when you lay eyes on her. 

Students getting practical experience

While the unit has other mannequins used for training Nursing students in each year or their study, Simulation Coordinator from the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Cecile Fourie, said Victoria was a major upgrade for the school because of her versatility. Victoria would further enhance the school's quality of teaching by training students in their final year of undergraduate studies as well as those pursuing their postgraduate studies, about the ins and outs of pregnancy and other female morbidities, Fourie said. 

"We try to make our scenarios as real and authentic as possible and we've seen how much our students have grown. Introducing Victoria to our pre- and postgraduate students will prepare them to be competent in clinical practice." 

Meet Victoria

So, what exactly can Victoria do? 

Fourie said while the other mannequins were made with screws that made them look robot-like, Victoria was made with silicone and given a clean finish to make her appear life-like. The other mannequins can only blink, but Victoria's eyes move around, she can speak Spanish and French, and she comes with five tummies for different medical scenarios. She has a normal tummy which acts as a closure, an operable tummy for caesarean delivery, a tummy that allows a breeched baby to be twisted and turned from the outside just before delivery, a contraction tummy used for normal vaginal delivery – which also allows Victoria to push, bleed, urinate, and release mineral oil which acts as amniotic fluid. The fifth tummy is postpartum haemorrhage, a condition that is common among South African mothers after delivery. 

"It’s so good that we get to train our students in such real, lifelike circumstances. Through Victoria we're going to try and do our part in lessening maternal deaths, which are so prominent in our country. She can act out all the abnormalities that take place in a real delivery, and she can also have other medical conditions such as a heart attack," Fourie said.



News Archive

Qwaqwa Campus graduates encouraged to face the world with confidence
2015-05-14

 

Speech: Nikiwe Bikitsha 

The Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State conferred over 800 degrees during this year's graduation ceremonies that were held on 8-9 May 2015. These included four PhDs in Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
 
The guest speaker, eNCA's Nikiwe Bikitsha, encouraged graduates to make it their business to learn about everything, no matter where they go.
 
''Having a qualification does not mean that now there will be tasks that are beneath you. No task should ever be too insignificant for you to do,'' said Bikitsha.
 
''You should make it your business to know every aspect of your work because that is where you get opportunities. Find somebody to help you along. Asking questions sharpens your skills and broadens your horizons. Asking questions also communicates to your employers and associates that here is someone who needs to be groomed and nurtured.'' she added.
 
In his congratulatory message, UFS Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, challenged the graduates to face the journey ahead with confidence.
 
''The journey ahead depends entirely on you, '' he said.
 
''You may think it depends on your parents, your country or the government. But the truth is that this is your journey. What is critical now is the kind of choices you are going to make. There will be stumbling blocks along the way, but you have to make it through,'' said Dr Mokhele.
 
''As the university'’, he continued, ''we hope you are going to make transformative choices that will impact positively on our people, our country and our continent''.
 
Dr Mokhele paid a special tribute to the four PhD graduates, three of whom matriculated at  local Qwaqwa schools, with the fourth matriculating at Mafahlaneng, Tweeling.
 
World-renowned composer and playwright, Dr Mbongeni Ngema, provided musical entertainment.
 
Both ceremonies were attended by community, business and traditional leaders in the Maluti A Phofung area.
 
Also in attendance were over 500 grade 12 learners from Qwaqwa, Kestell, Harrismith and Bethlehem schools.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept