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10 July 2019 | Story Zamuxolo Feni | Photo Johan Roux
Photo-MedicalStudents
Head of the University of the Free State School of Clinical Medicine Prof Nathaniel Mofolo (left) standing with the medical students who were about to board one of the newly-introduced vehicles that will ferry students to and from their work stations for their practical training.

In an effort to ensure the safety and convenience of undergraduate students doing their practical training at clinical platforms in Bloemfontein, the University of the Free State (UFS) – in collaboration with the Free State Department of Health (DoH) – has initiated a programme to transport undergraduate students to and from the respective clinical platforms.

UFS and Free State Department of Health joining forces for student safety

The Department of Health is providing a fleet of six minibuses and Kombis, as well as drivers for the vehicles. The transport is available to the students at no cost, from 06:00 to 23:00 every day as well as on weekends and public holidays.

Prof Nathaniel Mofolo, Head of the School of Clinical Medicine at the UFS, said, “This is the first initiative of its kind that the university has had with the provincial Department of Health. We are thankful for this initiative, as it will greatly assist in securing the safety of our students.”

More students from Health Sciences set to benefit

The initiative started on the morning of 8 July 2019, when groups of medical students boarded mini-buses and Kombis to the Pelonomi Hospital, National Hospital, Free State Psychiatric Complex, and the Mangaung University Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP).

Prof Mofolo said there was a firm intention from both parties to extend the programme to undergraduate students in the School of Nursing, as well as to students in the School of Allied Health Professions during August 2019.

According to Prof Mofolo, the decision to implement the transport programme was taken after student safety and wellness concerns were taken into consideration. “Although students can make use of the service on a voluntary basis, we have already received feedback that the service is being put to good use,” said Prof Mofolo.

The safety of undergraduate students doing their practical training at Pelonomi Hospital has been in the spotlight last month after the attempted rape of a medical intern, as well as the robbery of a medical officer in the parking area of the hospital. “We are hopeful that the transport programme will prevent the occurrence of similar incidents,” said Prof Mofolo.

Over the past month, the UFS, the DoH, and the executive management of Pelonomi Hospital have been working tirelessly to ensure the implementation of an agreed Safety and Security Plan, hence placing the safety of students, staff, and patients first.

 

News Archive

UFS hockey teams crowned as Free State hockey champions
2009-09-21

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) men’s and women’s hockey teams were recently crowned as the Free State hockey champions during the championship that took place on the university's astro fields in Bloemfontein.

Kovsie women defeated Raiders (the defending champions) 6-0 and the Kovsie men’s hockey team successfully defended their title against Tweespruit. During a penalty shootout UFS Reds beat the team of the Central University of Technology (CUT 1) 8-7, thereby ending in the third position.

Very early on the Kovsie women’s hockey team showed that they wanted to break the five-year drought without a trophy and within the first ten minutes they took the lead with 2-0 against Raiders. Liza Dreyer scored her first two goals out of four and from that moment on the Raiders were with their backs against the wall. With the score of 4-0 at halftime it was clear that Kovsies would have a second trophy in their cupboard after their recent success during the USSA championships. After halftime, Odie Swart scored another goal from a penalty corner and Liza scored her fourth goal, to bring the end score to 6-0. Malisa Kala was the other Kovsie who scored a goal.

Odie Swart, captain of the Kovsies played her last match for the Kovsies with Cat van Zuydam. She excelled in the attack as well as in the defence.

The Kovsies men’s hockey team has now done it three out of three times! Within the first twenty minutes the Kovsies men’s hockey team defeated Tweespruit with brilliant hockey by scoring three goals. Luke Sanan (2) and Kurt Henzberg (1) scored the goals. All three the goals were well-executed field goals. The current Kovsie team is surely the best-rounded hockey team that the Free State has had over the last ten years. In the past three years the students played in more than 45 club matches and they did not lose one match!

With the joy also comes sadness. For Braam van Wyk it was his last match as coach of a Kovsie team. For the past 17 years Braam has been involved with Kovsie hockey, in which he led the girls to twelve victories in the Free State league. The last three years he managed the men’s team, who won the league for the past three consecutive years, indeed an achievement. With Braam, three other senior players of the past three years made their last appearance for Kovsies. They are Morne Odendaal, Renaldo Ogle and Braam van Wyk (jr.).

Literally during the last moments of their game against CUT 1, the UFS Reds, who were 1-4 behind, scored a goal, which brought the final score to 4-4. The Kovsie students won the penalty shootout with 4-3, thereby winning 8-7 and thus ending third in this year’s men’s Free State league. 
 

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