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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

Student leaders 2012/13 announced

2012-08-30

Ready for the task - Sabelo Khumalo, SRC President of the Qwaqwa Campus and William Clayton, SRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux
31 August 2012

The 2012/13 elections for the Student Representative Councils (SRC) of the University of the Free State were completed successfully and show meaningful support for the changes in student governance adopted by students across campuses over the past two years.

The SRC elections at the Qwaqwa Campus were completed on 23 August 2012, while the elections at our Bloemfontein Campus took place on 27 and 28 August 2012.

The SRC Elections at our Bloemfontein Campus showed a voter turnout of 4516 votes (30.8%), with the elections at the Qwaqwa Campuses showing 1753 votes (46%) – both campuses reached the required quorums and the IEA (Bloemfontein Campus) and IEC (Qwaqwa Campus) declared the elections free and fair and announced the results as a true reflection of the will of the student bodies at the campuses.

The full SRC at Bloemfontein Campus now consists of 62% black and 38% white, and 53% female and 47% male members.

In the Qwaqwa elections, SADESMO achieved 46, 38% of the vote, with SASCO, PASMA and NASMO each achieving 30,23% and 8,39% and 14,26%, respectively.

The successful elections at Bloemfontein Campus show that the detailed transformation of student governance introduced by students at the Campus in 2010 and adopted by the university in 2011, succeeded in mobilizing greater participation of students in governance and representation. These changes in the main included a shift to independent candidacy for elective portfolios (12 seats) and organizational candidacy in nine sub-councils that holds ex officio seats on the SRC. Changes also included the establishment of student representative seats in faculty governance and management forums and the adoption of a reviewed Central SRC Constitution. Ex officio seats hold full and equal constitutional authority in the SRC.

Students at Qwaqwa Campus introduced additional portfolios to its SRC, including ex-officio seats for academic affairs, arts and culture, commuter students, Rag Community Service, religious affairs, residences and sports.

A joint sitting of the Campus SRCs will establish the Central SRC 2012/13 on 9 September 2012.

As a further opportunity for participation in and the development of student governance and representation, the current Central SRC herewith also announces its recent adoption of a student governance advisory programme, namely the UFS Student Elders Council (SEC).

The SEC is established as a combined programme between the Central SRC and the Dean of Student Affairs and will consist of selected senior student leaders from all campuses who completed their terms of office, apply and are appointed to the Elders Council by the Central SRC.

The Council will serve as an advisory structure to the Central SRC and other student structures in support of the continuous development of student governance and representation of the student body at the university.

The SEC will advise the Central SRC to be constituted following the constitution of the respective Campus SRCs.

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

President: Mr William Clayton

Vice-President: Mr Bonolo Thebe

Secretary: Ms Karis-Robin Topkin

Treasurer: Mr Pieter Coetzee

Arts & Culture: Ms Chanmari Erasmus

Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Gene McCaskill

First-generation Students: Ms Tanya Calitz

Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Ms Nokuthula Sithole

Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Neo Chere

Sport: Mr Tshepo Moloi

Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Ms Thabisile Mgadi

Transformation: Ms Koketso Mofokeng

Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Council: Mr Anesu Ruswa

Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Council: Ms Nombuso Ndlovu

Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Residences Council: Mr Johann Steyn

City Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Council: Mr Michael van Niekerk

Postgraduate Affairs & Ex officio: Postgraduate Council: Mr Fadeyi Akinsuyi

International Affairs & Ex officio: International Council: Ms Tumelo Moreri

Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Media Council: Mr Jamal-Dean Grootboom

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Jaco Faul

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Ms Keneue Mahloana

The SRC members at the Qwaqwa Campus are:

President General: Mr S Khumalo

Deputy President: Mr P T Lenka

Secretary General: Mr D Khethang

Treasurer General: Mr S I Sithole

Media & Publicity: Mr S N Ntombela

Politics & Transformation: Tbc

Student Development & Evironmental Affairs: Tbc Academic Affairs: Mr T Molawude

Arts & Cultural Affairs: Mr T Nkohli

Off-Campus Students: Mr B Mtshali

RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Ms S F Mlotya

Religious Affairs: Ms D C Khau

Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Z Mzolo

Sports Council: Mr S Mngomezulu

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