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Students play leading role to ensure food security

17 June 2020 | Story Dr WP Wahl

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.

During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.

Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.

Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.

More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.

News Archive

Inaugural lecture focuses on spinal surgery

2005-07-25

Prof John Shipley, from the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of the Free State (UFS), will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday 27 July 2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The topic of the lecture is The intervertebral disc: Past, present and future.

Prof Shipley studied medicine at the University of Cape Town. He specialised in Orthopaedic Surgery at the UFS, qualifying in 1981. He remained in the Department as a Consultant and was appointed Associate Professor in 1992. Following a period of private practice in Bloemfontein, he was appointed Head of the Department of Orthopaedics in 2004.

He has specialised in spinal surgery and was chairman of the SA Spine Society in 1993 and 1998. He serves on the Executive Committee of the SA Orthopaedic Association and the College of Surgeons of SA. He was the South African ABC Traveling Fellow to North America in 1986 and has been the main author of two international and eight local publications and two textbook chapters. He has delivered 28 presentations at congresses.

For any enquiries, please contact Ms Joan Nel at (051) 401-9301.

Media release

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

25 July 2005

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