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30 July 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Columbia University
Prof Jack Halberstam
Prof Jack Halberstam is a trailblazer in Queer Studies around the globe.

The Centre for Gender and Africa Studies has invited Prof Jack Halberstam to deliver the Biennial Humanities and Gendered Worlds Lecture on 7 August 2019 at 18:00 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

The title of the lecture is Exit Routes: After Feminism, After Gender. The lecture promises to reflect the critical complexity surrounding gender, feminism and sexuality. It is a wonderful opportunity for the UFS community engaged in issues of transformation and social justice to be exposed to such a globally recognised and influential scholar in Gender and Queer Studies. 

“Prof Halberstam’s visit was made possible through the initiative of Dr Nadine Lake, Gender Studies Programme Director in the CGAS, who is an expert on gender and sexuality and is fully aware what a great achievement it is to bring someone of Prof Halberstam’s stature to the UFS,” says Dr Stephanie Cawood, CGAS Director.

She adds: “The purpose of the lecture is to firmly shine a light on critical debates regarding gender and its impact, not only on humanity as a whole, but in the way that scholars study the human condition and its gender dynamics.”

Prof Halberstam is a visiting professor of Gender Studies and English and the Director of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia University in New York. He is a renowned Gender and Queer Studies scholar who has written numerous books including titles such as Female Masculinity, In a Queer Time and Place, and the acclaimed Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender and the End of Normal.

Some of his previous lecture topics include queer failure, sex and media, subcultures, visual culture, and gender variance among others.

News Archive

A position statement by the School of Medicine, UFS, regarding the crisis in health care in the Free State
2009-05-27

The executive management of the School of Medicine (SOM) at the University of the Free State (UFS) and its senior members wish to express their grave concern at the way the financial crisis in the Free State has negatively impacted on the provision of health care to the population. The unavailability of goods and services at every level of care has become so severely compromised that the staff of the SOM can no longer remain silent on this issue. By remaining silent it may be construed that we are either indifferent to, or even accepting the situation. Neither is true. The SOM can in no way condone, sanction or accept the current situation of health care in the Free State.

Other concerns expressed by the SOM include:

  • Medical services have been severely compromised due to the disintegrating primary health care system in the FS. This has resulted in patients who were in need of more advanced levels of medical care not being referred appropriately or timeously to level two hospitals and from there for tertiary care. Inpatient as well as outpatient numbers are steadily declining and the tendency now is to fill fewer beds with critically ill or terminally ill patients. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable patients for training and examination purposes.
     
  • It becomes more difficult to attract and retain experienced and suitably qualified medical specialists interested in an academic career, due to the inability to provide prospective career opportunities. This is particularly the case in the surgical disciplines.
     
  • It is also becoming more difficult to attract and appoint highly qualified registrars (future specialists) since the reputation of this SOM has been compromised by the negative publicity created by the financial difficulties of the FSDoH. Registrars form the backbone of the clinical work force in all teaching hospitals. If vacant posts cannot be filled in time service provision, as well as undergraduate teaching are severely jeopardised.
     
  • As a direct consequence of the rationing of health care, fewer surgical procedures are being performed. The point may soon be reached where registrars in the surgical disciplines may not get sufficient hands-on experience to allow them to qualify within the required time frame.
     
  • Non-payment of accounts to service providers and suppliers including the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), maintenance contracts and industry will severely compromises health care and future loyalty, goodwill and provision of critical services.
     
  • The dwindling number of qualified and experienced nurses in the public (and private) health care sector is an ongoing unresolved issue. Despite the fact that primary health care is mainly nurse-driven, nursing colleges were closed during the previous decade. These colleges must now be re-commissioned at high cost adding to the financial burden.
     
  • The morale of health care workers at all levels of health care has reached an all-time low
     
  • It is becoming increasingly difficult to conduct meaningful research in all disciplines due to staff shortages and lack of funding.

See attachment for the full statement on by the School of Medicine, regarding the crisis in health care in the Free State.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
26 May 2009
 

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