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Medical student’s photo highly commended at international competition

05 November 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied

Heinrich Janse van Vurren_web read more — Heinrich Janse van Rensburg’s is a 5th year medical student from the University of the Free State whose photo was highly commended at the Imperial College London’s Global Creative Competition: Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

A late-night photo taken through a window at the Pelonomi hospital by a final-year medical student from the University of the Free State (UFS) was highly commended at the first Global Creative Competition: Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

The competition, held by the Imperial College London, received more than 600 entries from more than 52 countries. The competition was held to bring together the global community of medical students to submit their creative responses to COVID-19 and to provide a platform for them to reflect on their personal and professional experiences during this challenging time.

Medical students from around the world could enter in two categories; visual and literary, and the winners were announced during a Global Awards Ceremony on 14 October.

Meaning behind the photo

Heinrich Janse van Rensburg’s late -night photo highlights the economic inequality that persists in South Africa. The photo was taken from the Pelonomi Hospital which is located in Heidedal, Bloemfontein, and shows the old, forsaken Dutch Reformed church in the foreground, shacks in the background with smoke billowing from the dwellings, where up to six people live in one room trying to stay warm during winter. They are built so close to each other that there can be no talk of effective social distancing.

According to Janse van Rensburg the theme of inequality in the South African milieu is further shown in the striking contrast between light and dark in the picture. “And now, with the COVID-19 pandemic placing a massive burden on an already struggling healthcare system the inequality is even more visible,” says Janse van Rensburg.

Janse van Rensburg’s late-night photo taken from the Pelonomi Hospital in Heidedal, Bloemfontein, shows the economic inequality that persists in South Africa. The photo was highly commended at the Imperial College London’s Global Creative Competition for Medical Student Responses to COVID-19.

A little shocked

He was a little shocked when he heard his photograph was highly commended. Janse van Rensburg says: “Imperial College London is a big institution and being an international competition I did not really expect a lot. There were participants from over 52 countries, and having seen some of the works that were submitted it feels special to be one of the students being noticed.”

Janse van Rensburg, who has never considered doing art, heard about the competition through the Faculty of Health Sciences platforms during lockdown level 5. He saw it as an opportunity to reflect, which has become even more imperative in times like these.

He says he does not go searching for art, but “notices” it from being conscious – something he thinks is important in medicine and life.

Value of creativity in promoting mental well-being

Dr Lynette van der Merwe, undergraduate medical programme director, School of Clinical Medicine, congratulated Janse van Rensburg, saying this commendation in an international competition underscores his talent and the value of creativity in promoting mental well-being.

“Heinrich’s artwork and showcase precisely what we aspire to develop in our exceptional UFS doctors-in-training: a professional with self-awareness, empathy and humanity.

“We initiated a Mental Health Awareness initiative and art competition in the School of Clinical Medicine in 2018 to promote creative expression as a means of supporting students’ mental health. Heinrich has won awards with his creative contributions every year, exhibiting his imaginative ability.”

Surgery and photography

Janse van Rensburg says he has always loved beautiful things and the meaning people attach to art is a good way to communicate that. He has applied for an internship at the Mitchells Plain hospital for when he completes his studies at the end of this year and is thinking of specialising in reconstructive or pediatrics surgery. Besides that, he would like to tap into his creative side and continue with the photography.

Watch the video of the winners here

News Archive

Reverend Frank Chikane honours ‘Oom Bey’ at second Beyers Naudé Memorial Lecture for 2012

2012-09-11

Rev. Frank Chikane and Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations at the UFS.
Photo: Stephen Collett
10 September 2012

The 9th Beyers Naude Memorial Lecture, a partnership initiative between the University of the Free State (UFS) and Kagiso Trust, was held on the South Campus of the university last week. The theme of the lecture focused on Collaborative partnership for social cohesion: Building of a nation with ethics.

Guest speaker, Reverend Frank Chikane, is a member of the UDF, ANC, Director-General in the Office of the President and a board member of Kagiso Trust.

In his speech, Rev. Chikane focused on the first 45 years in the life of Beyers Naudé, sketching a picture of a man who lived for what he believes in. When this former minister of the South African Dutch Reformed Church and member of the Broederbond, decided to question the morality of the Apartheid government after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, he made some changes in his beliefs and started to play a big role in the struggle against apartheid.

“If one know about ‘Oom Bey’s’ earlier life, you will see how radical his contribution was in turning South Africa from a country on the brink of destruction to a country of peace. ‘Oom Bey’ must be seen as a role model, someone we can aspire to be in South Africa today,” Rev. Chikane said.

“From his legacy one sees elements of someone building a nation with ethics.

“He took sides with the poor against an unjust system. Power breaks cohesion. It makes people not to think,” Rev. Chikane said.

If Afrikaners and black people stood together after the South African War (Anglo-Boer War), we would have talked a different language today. However, they did not. Afrikaners stood together, excluding black people and cohesion between all races was destructed. ‘Oom Bey’ tried to build relationships between people from all races in South Africa in an effort to create peace amongst all people. He was alienated from the Broederbond and defrockedrom the church.

In his speech, Rev. Chikane also said that South Africa did not succeed in collaborative partnerships in terms of the economy. “We need collaborative action to change our economy. This specific failure can destroy all that we have built together.”

“All South Africans can be like ‘Oom Bey” and make a contribution, especially in terms of the economy. To deal with this challenge, we can all contribute. This is important because due to a poor economy, many people are desperate and desperate people can destroy any relationship that we might have built so far.”

At this event, the university and Kagiso Trust also announced the winners of a poetry and essay competition that coincided with this last Beyers Naudé lecture for 2012. The award ceremony looked at the creativity of the learners, how they expressed themselves as well as the novelty of their work. Students as well as learners from schools in the Free State participated in the competition and first, second and third place winners received cash prizes as well as a book from Rev. Frank Chikane for their brilliant work.

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