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Fighting COVID-19: Here is how we are helping

16 April 2020 | Story Department of Communication and Marketing | Photo Charl Devenish

Farmovs — In 2019, FARMOVS was pre-qualified by the WHO to support clinical studies aimed at improving access to quality generic medicines across the globe.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is committed to supporting government’s efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. During this challenging time, dedicated staff members at the UFS continue to provide services as a testimony to their commitment to advance public knowledge of COVID-19 for the greater good of South Africa.

The following is a synopsis of the areas in which the UFS is actively assisting.

Public Health Emergency Solidarity Trial
Clinicians from the Department of Internal Medicine, the Department of Critical Care, and the Division of Virology will be working with FARMOVS to participate in the Public Health Emergency Solidarity Trial initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO). This international randomised trial will evaluate four treatment options (remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir plus interferon, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine) for the treatment of COVID-19.

The trial is expected to include more than 45 countries worldwide, including a number of South African sites.

Farmovs
FARMOVS is in a planning process to support all the Bloemfontein hospitals, including Pelonomi, Universitas, 3 Military Hospital, Mediclinic, and Rosepark, in conducting the largest global trial on COVID-19 – the Public Health Emergency Solidarity Trial, under leadership of the WHO.

Negotiations are ongoing between the UFS and the Department of Health in the Free State for FARMOVS to offer support with the continuation of healthcare to non-COVID-19 patients in an attempt to free up space at Universitas Hospital for isolation of COVID-19 patients.

In 2019, FARMOVS was pre-qualified by the WHO to support clinical studies aimed at improving access to quality generic medicines across the globe. FARMOVS also receives feasibility requests for support with the evaluation of existing drugs (repurposing) as well as the development of novel drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 – this is an ongoing process.

Disaster Management Training and Education Centre (DiMTEC)
DiMTEC represents the UFS on the Provincial Joint Operation Centre (PROVJOC). The PROVJOC is a fully equipped, dedicated facility that is proactively established to enable all relevant role players /disciplines to jointly manage all safety and security-related aspects of any planned event or any major incident which has occurred or is imminent – especially in the response and recovery operations phase – at the strategic and/or tactical level, using the Unified Command System. This facility is also linked to all other established safety and security centres.

Research and Innovation
The UFS hosts a SARChI Research Chair in vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, and recently invested in the establishment of a biosafety level-3 facility. Hence, there is expertise on the campus to plan and conduct research on zoonotic and medically significant viruses. In addition, there are research groups focusing on protein expression systems with potential for utilisation in the development of diagnostic assays with application in either diagnosis or surveillance.

Currently, researchers at the UFS have established several projects that will contribute directly towards the COVID-19 outbreak.

News Archive

UFS Psychologist honoured for lifelong contribution

2015-12-09

Prof Dap Louw, distinguished professor and forensic psychologist from the University of the Free State, receives a Lifelong Achievers Award from the University of Johannesburg. From left is: Prof Theo Veldsman, head of the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at UJ, prof Louw, prof Deon de Bruin, Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at UJ, and prof Daneel van Lill, dean at Faculty of Management at UJ.
Photo: Jan Potgieter, UJ

It is always good to be honoured by your own university, but it is even more special to be honoured by another university, according to Prof Dap Louw, distinguished professor and forensic psychologist from the University of the Free State (UFS), on an award he received from the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

On 5 November 2015, Prof Louw received the prestigious Lifelong Achievers Award from the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at UJ in recognition of the major contribution he has made during his career in psychology. He was one of two recipients of the award during this year’s UJ Top Achievers Awards Ceremony.

Prof Louw had great appreciation for his students and colleagues at the UFS, without who he would have been “without arms”.

Worthy legacy

The Lifelong Achievers Award is presented to retired academics that have, over their careers, consistently made significant contributions to their field, nationally and/or internationally, and have left behind a worthy legacy.

According to the description for the award, the recipient has left behind a legacy in his or her specific field which is gratefully acknowledged by all past, present and upcoming professional colleagues, students, clients and other stakeholders.

This description concludes with: “We are a better science and profession because of you”.

Career full of highlights

Prof Louw is the author or co-author of over 100 articles in accredited national and international journals, and he is an accredited NRF researcher.

He is the principal author and editor of several textbooks currently prescribed by 12 universities in South and Southern Africa. It is estimated that, over the years, more than 100 000 students have received their training via textbooks he has written with his wife, Prof Anet Louw.

Prof Louw holds a master’s and doctoral degree in Criminology, and a master’s and doctoral degree in Psychology. He is the only person in South Africa with these qualifications.
During his career as forensic psychologist, Prof Louw has testified in many familiar criminal cases in South Africa and Namibia.

The Academy of Science of South Africa presented him with the Stals Award for Psychology and he was honoured by The National Honor Society in Psychology in the USA as well.

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