Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
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

Kovsie-driemanskap oorheers die mans-afdeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse pluimbalkampioenskap.
2004-10-15

Die Kovsie-driemanskap, Chris en Roelof Dednam en Wiaan Viljoen, saam met hul ervare spanmaat, Johan Kleingeld, oorheers, soos verwag is, totaal die mans-afdeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse pluimbalkampioenskap.

Chris Dednam het sy nasionale enkelspeltitel suksesvol verdedig deur onder andere Kleingeld in die half-eindronde 15-2, 15-3, en Viljoen in die eindronde met 15-5, 15-0, te klop. Hy het ook die dubbelspeltitel behou, die keer saam met broer Roelof, deur Viljoen en Dorian James (WP) in die eindronde met 17-16, 15-7, te verslaan. In die gemengde dubbelspel wou die kombinasie nie vlot nie, en is hy en Antoinette Uys (Bol) in die half-eindronde uitgeskakel.

Roelof Dednam het benewens die dubbelspeltitel (sy eerste senior nasionale titel), in die enkelspel die half-eindronde gehaal waar hy naelskraap in drie stelle teen Viljoen verloor het. Hy het ook in die gemengde dubbelspel die half-eindronde gehaal.

Wiaan Viljoen het benewens die eindrondes in enkelspel en dubbelspel die kwart-eindronde van die gemengde dubbelspel gehaal.

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